Vicky Petterson, 43, is all set to mark her double lung transplant milestone in style with a party with friends and family
View gallery Vicky Petterson
View gallery
A New Marske mum with cystic fibrosis has broken medical boundaries by today celebrating 15 years since her double lung transplant.
Now 43-year-old Vicky Petterson is all set to mark the milestone in style with a party with friends and family.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease caused by a faulty gene.
The gene controls the movement of salt and water in and out of your cells, so the lungs and digestive system become clogged with mucus, making it hard to breathe and digest food.
Although those with cystic fibrosis are living longer lives due to improved treatment, the average age someone with CF is expected to live to is 41.
Vicky was diagnosed at age three and was on the waiting list for a transplant by the time she was 22.
Before her transplant in April 1999 at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, she was very unwell and dependent on oxygen. Her son Anthony was five.
She said: “I hoped that following the transplant I would live long enough for him to remember me.
“He’s 20 now.
“I just hoped for him to remember his mum, but to be able to still be here when he’s gone to uni...
“I had no idea it could ever be possible.”
Vicky, who is a committee member for the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association (FHLTA), says that the maximum CF sufferers are expected to live after a lung transplant is 15 years.
Vicky has had “chronic rejection” of the lungs - meaning that damage has been caused to them and function is down to around 60 or 70%. She also needs to use insulin and has digestion problems.
However, Vicky, who lives with her husband Erik, 42, an area manager, is generally well, mainly, she says, through keeping active.
Vicky, who as part of her role for FHLTA encourages transplantees to take part in sport, said: “I still run and I still cycle.
“For all I do have the damage, the reason I’m so well is that I’m still active. I keep myself well.
“By keeping active you keep yourself as well as possible.
“I don’t think people realise the possibilities of donation - even us.
“When I was on the list we thought it may improve the quality of my life for a small time - I had no idea that it would give me a new life.
“It doesn’t just improve the quality of people’s lives but saves them.”
Vicky also says that she’d consider a second transplant if needed and given the opportunity.
“You certainly can’t just take it for granted but I would definitely be up for a second one,” said Vicky.
“I know people who haven’t had one done through fear and died.
“But my biggest fear was dying without being given the chance.
“I grew up thinking that once I was poorly the next option is to get a transplant.”
Vicky is now appealing for people to register to donate their organs - but also to let their families know about their wishes.
She said: “It’s brilliant to sign up to the register but it’s also most important to speak to your next of kin about it who can make any surgeons aware that that was your wish. That’s the key thing really - you need to let your family know your wishes as in the end it’s up to them to make the donation.”
ON November 26, 2009, the Evening Gazette launched - and continues to run - its Become A Donor campaign, urging Teessiders to sign up to the organ donor register. Last year, a record 1,323 people in the UK donated their organs after death. And nearly 3,500 patients received the transplant they desperately needed.
When we launched our appeal in 2009, 123,176 Teessiders - only 22% of the population - were on the register. By 2012, an extra 42,000 of you had signed up. Visit http://ift.tt/X6Lq9t or call 0300 123 23 23.
No comments:
Post a Comment