NOT so long ago, Stephen Blom was living an adrenalin-fuelled life, competing in cycle races across Europe.


His prowess in the saddle saw him being nicknamed the ‘Flying Dutchman’ as he left rivals trailing.


However, being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease put the brakes on his sporting adventures.


Stephen, who is from the Netherlands but moved to Scotland in 1987 and now lives in Johnstone, received a life-saving transplant in March 2016.


His recovery has been a slow process but he gains strength through his charity, Return to Life, which helps patients cope with the emotional roller-coaster of kidney dialysis and the transplant waiting list.


Stephen, 40, told The Gazette: “Life on dialysis is incredibly difficult and I don’t think anyone can be prepared for it.


“I started to notice my performance slipping but just assumed it was down to me not training hard enough.


“So, after being given the all-clear by doctors, I went to a training camp in Lanzarote but I was struggling.


“One day, I had to leave a session early and return to the villa as it was too much for me.


“It was then that I received a call from the doctors telling me my kidney function was down to 14 per cent.


“I was angry and scared and couldn’t really comprehend what was happening.”

The Gazette:

Stephen Blom (white helmet) was once a highly successful amateur cyclist 

As soon as he heard the news, Stephen rushed back to the UK.


Doctors told him that chronic kidney failure was causing nausea, fatigue, sleep problems and high blood pressure.


But, for the former oil and gas worker, it was the changes to his personality that he found most difficult.


“I became quite explosive and angry, which was so out of character,” said Stephen. “It’s only looking back now that I realise why.


“I didn’t know what anything was or what it all meant. I was basically just given a 20-minute consultation and then told to go on my way.


“I had to break the news to my then fiancée and my parents.


“Due to losing my job, I had to go on to social security and that’s just another level of worry and struggle.


“That was such a shock after having a solid, well-paid job in Aberdeen but there was no help and no immediate point of call for me. I didn’t know where to turn.”

The Gazette:

Stephen would make his comeback in the 2017 Transplant Games, where he won bronze. 

It quickly became clear that Stephen would face an anxious wait for a replacement kidney and he was left struggling to cope.


“After spending many weeks in and out of hospital, I was nearing suicide,” he recalled.


Nearly two years after diagnosis and with Stephen nearing the point of no return, he received a phone call on Easter Sunday in 2016 that changed his life.


“Being told they were ready to do a transplant was like winning the lottery,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it.


“On the day my kidney started working, I woke up with a jump in the middle of the night like I had just had a bad dream. Then it hit me – I could smell and feel again. The worst part was I could smell the stench in the room.”


After his life-changing experience, Stephen decided to launch his own charity – Return to Life – to support people going through a similar situation.

The Gazette:

Stephen in the Paisley support office 

He said: “We are officially Scotland’s only kidney support office that people can go to if they need help or to find out who to speak to.


“The doubts and the worries about the illness will never go away. I suffered, and still do, from bouts of depression.


“I’ll still need to have several transplants during my life and my body could give in at any time.


“This will always be in the back of my mind.


“If you’re on your own or have no family or friends who can help, then it is such a difficult situation.


“I just want to increase awareness – and the number of people donating their organs.”


As part of his efforts to promote the charity, Stephen has been visiting schools and hospitals across Renfrewshire to share his story.


“It’s all about giving people hope that they can survive and things can get better,” he said.


“This is not an easy illness – people can often give up and accept death.


“I remember one guy who decided he wasn’t going to return for any check-ups.


“There are other families in Scotland in a similar situation and many people are affected.


“People feel lonely and many of the issues are not visible.”


He added: “The charity gives me huge satisfaction because I know we can make a difference to people suffering from this illness.”

For more information on Return to Life and an upcoming race event, see our story

Alternatively, visit the Return to Life Facebook page