Karen's Transplant Sport Adventures

So it is with a heavy heart that I have had to make the decision to not attend the European Transplant & Dialysis Games this year in Arnhem.

I simply cannot afford the ridiculously high registration fees, travel and accommodation so soon after moving.

I would be looking at paying over £1000 for at most 10 games of bowling!

I also refuse to ask you lovely people for help again. I have done that twice over the last few years and I don't want to be *that* person always asking for handouts.

I *may* make the World's next year in Belgium, but this will come down to finances.

Such a shame that an event to include all is limited to those who can afford it!!

It's been a while I know... Just haven't felt in the right headspace to consider myself a "bowler"

League outings have been pretty mediocre and due to illness/injury and holidays the first few months of 2026 have been very spotty with bowling and really poor score-wise.

Today for the first time in absolutely ages we went along to Maldon for some practice time.

I went in purely wanting to work on my stamina as it was clear on Thursday with a G2 score of 169 and G3 score of 87, my fatigue was huge!

Very early into today I decided that while just aiming to throw as much as possible in an hour, I was also needing to get my follow through (bowling arm to continue moving after releasing the ball "like you're brushing your hair") back as that had almost disappeared.

After 4.5 games bowled, I was fatiguing but not so bad and my follow through using both balls felt more natural and frequent, leading to a more consistent release across both balls.

Whilst not amazing scores today I feel happier again, and will hopefully lead me to getting back to where I want to be by the summer!

A little interview spreading how beneficial Bowling has been to me post transplant...

Share Your Story – Karen Mills – From Transplant to Tenpin Triumph

Karen Mills was born with cystic fibrosis and faced incredible challenges throughout her life. After a double lung transplant gave her a new lease of life, Karen discovered tenpin bowling—a sport that not only brought her joy but also opened doors to international competition.

Her story is one of resilience, determination, and friendship, inspiring transplant recipients and sports enthusiasts alike.

Learn more here
https://btba.org.uk/2026/01/09/share-your-story-karen-mills-from-transplant-to-tenpin-triumph/

With no league on Thursday (I had a date with Five bad boys with the powers to rock me) Glen and I decided to head down for some practice this morning.

Played 5 games in 2 hours. No hint of fatigue which is a huge improvement over recent months for my stamina and strength.

For some reason since getting back from the summer I have been bowling my 2 balls in very different ways, which has never been a thing before. So I wanted to figure out what was going on and look at getting it right again.

With Glen's help, we established it was something with my hand, not my arm as I thought... Started to try to get the release consistent. Took some trial and error balls but I think it's at least in the right direction and I'm aware of it now!

4 games of "normal" bowling while ironing out the kinks and the final game was our attempt at playing low game... Yes my low game score WAS higher than 1 of my normal games, but it is also the lowest low game score I've achieved in several years so I'll still take it as a win...

Low game - try to get as few pins as possible, gutter, hitting nothing and strike all counts as an X. Ideal game for working on getting those corner pins figured out!

Really didn't feel up to much time on FB last week.

Felt SO tired physically, mentally and emotionally after last weekend, combined with flu jab adding to my manliness.

Had league night, and although I didn't get a single point for the Disnerds, I did bowl above my average, and my last game scored 150, and even got a "you made me work for that one" off my opponent - finished 1 pin behind him (& some points)

Had a chilled day and have enjoyed spending time with my doggies and Glen not being time pressured at all. No bowling next week as I'm off out out Thursday.

I'm sorry I left y'all hanging after arriving at the bowling centre on Sunday morning.

I bowled all 3 morning games back to back.
Game 1 - 113 - I REALLY struggled to feel comfortable, I couldn't find a line that worked, I felt rushed and harassed and generally like a fish out of water. Before frame 8 I had a tech talk and made a change that I'd never thought of before, and from that point, my line worked!
Game 2 - 144.
Game 3 - 142.
Both Games 2 & 3 I had my line mostly sorted with just the slight tweak depending on what the lanes were doing after each move. I settled into *my* game. I tuned out all the excess noise, I ignored everyone around me and just did me.

My tournament average was 133. Would have liked to get it up to the 140s but it's an improvement on the regionals!

I massively missed having my own support squad, whether it be family or even my usual crew of transplant bowlers making me laugh, offering advice and generally giving me a happy positive environment. I don't do well when it's just me and my thoughts!

Overall, Essex ladies came last. Which to be honest was expected. We only just scraped through the regionals and with everyone struggling at varying points across the weekend it would have taken a miracle to be any other position than bottom.

I'm proud that I turned up and I bowled above my season average at a highly stressful and at times uncomfortable tournament.

I left Romford directly after the last game, got home and practically fell asleep in my dinner (thank you Glen Mills for having it pretty much sorted). Having spent all afternoon with ear ache and a return of a rubbish head I was very much in need of my bed!

Game 3 - I didn't bowl.

Not great for team Essex.

Game total 639. Lost to Lincolnshire.

Overall total: 2029 (probably last)

Game 2 - didn't bowl.

Team score 686
Beat Surrey= 80 bonus pins.

End round 2 total: 1390

I bowled 130 game 1...

Better than my last outing. Had a tough time adjusting to the lane but getting bang on season average, I'm happy with that!

Gem finished on 180.
Team score 624. Beaten by Hampshire... But they're a lovely team so it's ok!

All set for day 1 of the Inter County Nationals, bowling for Essex...

Wish me luck!!

It's "all teams need a Karen" night in league for us...

Must pay attention to which lane is me!!