Hi,John @ Graeme,[Graham], Jim Douglas asked me to forward details of my illness and experiences,in preparation for my racewalk at Dens Park,at the Dundee v. Stirling Albion game,during half time,in my attempt to raise money for my beloved Dundee Football Club,who i have supported since i was 10 years old,in 1960,when i lived at Auchterhouse,where i was brought up.Hope you don,t fall asleep,as you read the following,============== I joined Dundee Hawkhill Harriers,in April,1983,during the marathon boom.I ran quite a few road,cross country track,and fell races for them,until my running suddenly started to suffer pretty badly.I found i was getting slower quite dramatically.I knew this wasn,t natural,so decided to visit my G.P. He could not figure out what the problem was,so referred me to Ninewells Hospital,for further tests.After lengthy visits over a period of time,in 1987,i was diagnosed as having "SJOGRENS SYNDROME",an auto-immune disease,not thought to be life threatening.After doctors learned more about the illness,they then told me that,it could certainly be life-threatening,as it could attack any organ in the body.In 1992/3,i was then told that the disease had already started to attack my kidneys.I kept carrying on with my running,albeit very poorly,compared to what i originally used to be capable of, 2 hrs-47 mn.marathon,72 min.half marathon,33 min.10k,as well as high places in fell races.Then,in 1998,i started to be hospitalized very regularly.I spent 11 and a half months in ward one of Ninewells,as well as many other lengthy periods,including twice being in intensive care,where i was put to sleep for 8 days,to give my heart a rest.Doctors then told me in 2001,that i would end up on kidney dialysis within 2 years,because my kidneys were only functioning 40%.True to their prediction,i landed on dialysis,in April,2003.The next 6 years were a total and utter bad dream for me.I spent far more time than i ever care to remember,in ward 22,renal ward.My body kept rejecting fistulas the surgeons created in my body for dialysis access.I also took countless infections,including the dreaded M.R.S.A. and C.DIFF.,several times.These 2 infections can often be fatal.Then,in September 13th,2007,i received a horrific setback,when i was viciously atacked by a drug addict,armed with a golf club.Doctors were amazed i came out of it alive,as i was still on kidney dialysis.I was left with 9 injuries all over my body,leaving me with a permanent scar on my forehead.This vicious attack received very wide local coverage by the Dundee Courier,Evening Telegraph,Daily Record,and The Scotsman newspapers,as well as the headlines,Grampian News on Friday,14th,September,2007.During the culprits eventual trial,the judge was flabbergasted that i wasn,t killed.As i had a goretex tube fitted into my right thigh for dialysis access,if the golf club had struck the tube,it would have meant instant death.Fotunately for me,i covered it with my right hand during the attack.I was left with a badly injured right wrist!!!! Then,in May,2008,i had to have my right leg amputated,just below my knee,due to gangrene.Doctors then fitted a goretex tube into my left thigh,again for dialysis access,as i was fast running out of options.I then had to have my left thigh opened,to bring the main femoral artery,[the strongest artery in the entire body],to the surface of my thigh,to join it with a vein,to create a fistula for access for dialysis.This was now one of my last lifelines.Yes,you,ll probably have guessed by now,in August,2008,only 12 weeks after my first amputation,i had my left leg amputated below the knee,again because of gangrene.So,twice within 12 weeks i had to learn to walk again,under strange circumstances.Doctors then told me that i would need a wheelchair and walking sticks for at least 2 years.I managed to discard them in only three and a half months.They were totally speechless.Then on Thursday night/Friday morning, of May 14th/15th,2009,at 12-30am,i received the best telephone call of my entire life.It was the Edinburgh Kidney ransplant Unit,informing me to get myself prepared,and be through to Edinburgh within 3 hours,as a cadaveric kidney,[from a 40 year old man,who had died suddenly],had become available,as it was a perfect match for me.This was entirely unexpected,and completely out of the blue,because my great Hawkhill Harrier friend,Ron Oliver,had bravely put himself forward as my live donor.As Ron and myself had been13 through to Edinburgh on the Wednesday,13th,May,for final tests,and confirmation,this news had shocked me.I arrived in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at 3am.I was then on the operating table at 10.30am.After my transplant,i spent 2 weeks in the transplant ward,where doctors and nurses failed to notice i was a double amputee!!! I found this unbelievable,and possibly frightening.But as time went on,i was doing so well,that i decided to try and commence some training.On the 2nd December,2009 i started racewalk training[heel,toe contact with ground,and a straight lead leg].I managed 1 mile in 20 minutes.I was over the moon with excitement.I then trained every second day,for 8 months,before entering the 2010 Balmoral Road Races,on Saturday,24th April.I entered the 5 kilometre,[3.1mile] road race,as the first and only ever double amputee to do so,in the entire history of the event.I completed the race in 49 mns,48 secs.I then decided to enter the 2010 British Transplant Games,in the lovely City Of Bath.On Saturday,21st,August,i entered the 5 kilometre racewalk,as the only double amputee to ever attempt the race,in the 33 year history of the games.On a very hilly,4 lap course,i finished in a time of 48 mns,33secs.,to now become the British Double Amputee 5 kilometre racewalking Record Holder.This of course meant that i was now racewalking at a pace of just over 15 minutes per mile.Then,last Wednesday,23rd February,2011,at the Dundee Sports Awards Ceremony,held in theInvercarse Hotel,I was awarded the "JENNY WOOD ALLEN TROPHY",for the "DUNDEE DISABLED SPORTS PERSON,2010".As i have met many critics of what i do, i would like to think i have proved them wrong.I really hope Dundee Football Fans support me fully in my quest,in raising more much needed money for my beloved "DUNDEE FOOTBALL CLUB" So,now my next aim in life is to attempt to break my own British Record for a double amputee racewalker,in this years British Transplant Games,held in Belfast,between 4th and 8th August,2011. So,lads,i can only apologise,if i have bored you to death,but i truly hope you can maybe pick some useful information out of my wee story.I have many more stories of what i have faced,but i will finally leave you to ponder over this """saga""". Yours In Sport, Ronnie Mcintosh