The story of my transplant
Claire’s Transplant Story
After saying no to a transplant for about 3 years, I then had my second
collapsed lung in August 2002. I found it very hard to recover from.
I came out of hospital and traveled to the south of France on a train,
which I thought would be my last holiday. While on holiday, I
was very ill and decided I wanted more of a life. I decided that
when I got back, I would talk about going on the list.
I had my assessment and was told I would be a good candidate for a transplant.
I thought about it for a month or so then decided to go on the list.
In that month I saw a psychologist as I wasn’t sleeping
very well thinking about that decision. When I finally said yes
I felt more relaxed. Whilst on the list, my health went up and
down. In July 2003 I met my partner Michael, also suffers with C.F,
in hospital. I had long sessions on IVS and so felt really well
for a while and my quality of life improved. In September, I spoke
about going on hold on the list for a while. Before we could make
that final, I got a call saying some lungs had become available. I didn’t
know what to do! They asked if I wanted them to speak to my consultant,
I agreed. When they came back to me, my consultant had said it
wasn’t the right time for me so I didn’t take it.
I then came off the list for a little while.
In the February I became quite ill again, so in the same week my partner
proposed to me, I also went back on the list.
In that March, my lung collapsed and my family and I had a very tough
time. My partner and I were asked if we wanted to get married
there and then in hospital. We said no as we wanted to do it properly
when I was better. I carried on struggling for a while with chest
drains etc and didn’t leave my bed for months. I started
to stabilize and could walk about 2 meters with oxygen on but needed
help with everything including taking my tablets.
On the 20th of July I was in hospital and I was woken up at 5am and
asked if I had finished my overnight feed, I was very confused. Then
at 7am, someone came in and told me not to eat anything. At this
time I panicked and asked why. The nurse said that someone from
the transplant team had rang and said some lungs had come available.
I immediately rang my family and partner and told them to come in. I
then phoned through to my best friends room, she was staying on the
unit too as she suffers from C.F. She came and sat with me and held
my hand and cried. My family arrived and I was taken to surgery.
MyDdad and partner came in with me until I was put to sleep.
The next thing I knew, I was waking up. I was choking on the tube
that was in my throat but not for long. I then woke up properly;
I wasn’t in pain just discomfort and it felt like someone was
sitting on my chest. 48 hours later I was taken to a ward, where I then
started to walk and became mobile very quickly. Within 3 days I was
in the hospital gym and loved it. Things only ever got better
for me. I had a slight infection so had to stay in a little while but
I was out within a month. I was soon out on very long shopping
sprees after a week at home.
For me everything has been perfect and I am enjoying playing sports
and going to the gym. I got married on the 2nd of September 2005
and had the most beautiful day of my life. I was able to walk around
greeting people all day and feeling amazing. I could also dance
all night which was just a dream come true.
Everything has been like a dream since my transplant and making the
decision to go on the list has turned out to be the best one of my life.
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