Sandra Strebel

Name:
Sandra Strebel

Date of Birth:
17.10.1980

Region/Country:
Switzerland

Since when have you been transplanted?
08.08.2005

Which organ was transplanted?
Kidney

Why was the transplant necessary, and what has it enabled you to do?
At the age of 7, I was diagnosed with a very rare and highly aggressive yolk sac tumor. I was the first child in Switzerland with this condition. After surgery and subsequent chemotherapy, the cancer returned quickly and spread throughout my abdomen. Another surgery followed, along with high-dose chemotherapy. My parents knew that the treatment could cause severe damage to my kidneys. Unfortunately, this damage occurred quickly, leading to the treatment being first reduced and eventually stopped. In the following years, the doctors tried to support my kidneys by putting the right one on hold for a few years. However, this approach was not successful, and at the age of 12, I decided to have the right kidney removed. I experienced some quieter years, during which I was able to participate in sports, first in a girls’ group and later in a women’s team, where I discovered volleyball as “my” sport. Starting in 2003, my kidney function rapidly declined, and transplantation soon became a topic of discussion. Fortunately, we quickly learned that my father was a compatible donor. Thanks to this, I was able to work full-time and continue playing volleyball until the transplant. On August 8, 2005, I received the gift of life. After three difficult years filled with complications and setbacks, I motivated myself to rejoin volleyball training. Through regular physical activity and playing sports with wonderful people, I gradually started feeling better. In 2011, I participated in my first Transplant Games and rediscovered an old passion: badminton.

How was the time for you just before and after the transplant?
Because of the many setbacks, I felt worse for about three years after the transplant than before it. Just before the transplant, I could hardly believe how bad my condition really was. I was already experiencing the typical symptoms of kidney failure, but it didn’t greatly affect me at the time. I kept thinking that it wasn’t all that serious.

What role does sport play in your life?
Sport is life for me. Without sports, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It doesn’t only improve my physical health but also my mental well-being.

What have you already achieved in sports?
I have participated in six Summer World Transplant Games, five World Transplant Winter Games, and six European Transplant Sport Championships, winning 47 medals. Most of these are from Alpine skiing, followed by badminton and athletics. I’ve also had the chance to compete in several German Championships, always surrounded by dear friends.

What do you associate with the World Transplant Games, and why are you excited about WTG2025 in Dresden?
The Games are always the highlight of the year for me. This event is just for me and my fellow transplant recipients, where I can simply be myself and be accepted for who I am. Dresden will feel like a “home game” for me as a Swiss-German. The Games probably won’t get much closer than this. The Germans share a similar mentality to us Swiss, and I’m excited to speak in German and travel there by train.

In which competitions will you likely compete in Dresden?
I will definitely compete in the badminton singles and hope to find partners for the doubles and mixed events. Depending on the program, I’ll fill the remaining spots with athletics (ball throw/javelin, long jump) or pétanque.