‘I was extremely lucky...organ donation saved my life’ – Sheffield celebrates 30 years since first heart transplant

The first heart transplant in Sheffield took place in October 1989, with hundreds of men, women and children having the revolutionary procedure in the city in the three decades since.

However, as well as a celebration of lives saved already, hospital bosses also hoped the event will encourage more people to sign up to the organ donation register, enabling even more people to survive serious heart problems in the future.

One former patient who attended the event was Nicola Dixon, 49, from Everton near Doncaster, whose heart grew to the size of a rugby ball when she became very unwell just a few weeks after giving birth to her daughter Beth, now 17.

Nicola had felt extremely tired about five weeks after the birth, but put it down to a cold or exhaustion. As her symptoms got worse, she was admitted to hospital and doctors soon realised that her heart wasn’t working properly. An echocardiogram revealed it was at less than 20 per cent of its proper function.

She said: “I was told that I needed a transplant, and was a priority case. I was extremely lucky and the very next day underwent a transplant at the Northern General Hospital. Organ donation saved my life. It was incredible that I was able to receive a new a heart as soon as I needed one. This isn’t often the case with many patients who spend a long time on waiting lists.

“With the gift of a transplant I have been able to see my daughter grow up. I can’t put it into words how grateful I am to the donor family and all the amazing staff who make miracles happen”.

Another patient who attended the event, Gavin Worley, received a donor heart at the Northern General in 1999, after he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy three years earlier. Gavin was a sports-mad teenager at the time, who played cricket, football and tennis, and was also training as a journalist.

Following the transplant, he went on to land a dream job with the Press Association and covered two Olympic Games – Athens 2004 and London 2012. He also married his wife, Emma, and had two daughters, Isabelle, 14 and Amelia, 11, who both performed dance routines at the anniversary celebration.

He said: “None of this would have been possible without organ donation. It’s the most precious gift anyone could give.”

Mr Peter Braidley, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical director, said: “The aim of the celebration was to raise awareness of transplantation with a view to encourage people to sign up on the organ donor register after seeing how successful heart and lung transplantation can be in changing patients’ lives.”

Sheffield’s first heart transplant was achieved on October 11, 1989.

Visit https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/how-you-can-help/donate to find out more.