This year my birthday is a little different! I’ll be spending it on the Jim Quick Transplant ward at Wythenshawe Hospital with the amazing transplant team.

I had always hoped that I would never be so poorly that I had to be hospitalised and I did really well for the best part of 3.5 years to continue life whilst living with a rare lung disease. I had been on the routine transplant list for 10 months, was having regular appointments with the transplant team and had found a way to get by day to day at a slower pace.

Then that funny thing called life hits you… you just never know when it will test you that little bit more!

My body had gone into respiratory failure. Thanks to the tremendous care & expertise from the Transplant Team and all involved in my care at Wythenshawe Hospital, they truly saved my life.

There is no easy way to say that, but it’s the truth. I was given the precious gift of time: being able to become strong and stable again whilst I await a lung on the urgent donor list. 

I am proud of any donation I can help to raise for this wonderful hospital & charity and will make it a pledge that I will continue to fundraise for them in any way I can.

New Start Charity help support the Transplant department in so many ways- from purchasing new equipment or providing rooms for families to stay in if they live far away. 

I have seen the level of care and compassion first hand from my stay here- the team here really are true angels.

This year my birthday will be a little different and I am therefore asking for donations instead of gifts, to continue to support this wonderful charity. 

If it was yourself needing a transplant, or someone you loved- you would definitely want to have this team caring for you every step of the way.

Thank you all x