Longest-surviving
heart
transplant patient
celebrates
30-years despite
being
told
he would only survive
a
decade
Paul Hayman underwent the transplant in 1987 and
has had the same donor ticker ever since
has had the same donor ticker ever since
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BRITAIN’S longest-surviving heart transplant patient is
celebrating
30-years since his life changing op and has defied medics who
said
he would survive only a decade.
Paul Hayman, 49, underwent the transplant in 1987 and has had the
same donor ticker ever since.
same donor ticker ever since.
Pioneering surgeon Sir Terence English, the man who performed
Britain’s first ever successful heart transplant, carried out the
intricate operation.
Britain’s first ever successful heart transplant, carried out the
intricate operation.
Despite being warned the transplant would only give him
another ten years,
Paul is still going strong.
another ten years,
Paul is still going strong.
The dad-of-two said: “Getting this heart was the greatest gift
anyone
in the world could receive. It’s a miracle.
anyone
in the world could receive. It’s a miracle.
“Every day I think it’s another day and get on with it. I keep myself well and take it all in my stride.”
Paul, who has also had a kidney transplant, added: “I’ve been really lucky, I do have to pinch myself each day as I can’t comprehend that I’m still here.”
Before performing surgery on December 17, 1987, Sir Terence told Paul “he would be lucky to see Christmas” if he did not have the op.
He became the longest-surviving heart transplant patient following the death last year of John McCafferty, 73, who survived for 33 years.
Paul is waiting for Guinness World Records to confirm he is the new record holder.
This summer he will celebrate his 50th birthday, and is astonished to still be here after being told aged 15 that his heart was four times the normal size.
He was diagnosed with an enlarged heart after collapsing in a badminton lesson at school, and five years later was rushed to Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, for the major surgery.
Paul was told the new heart might extend his lifespan by ten years, and was delighted he had years, not weeks, to live.
But he had to give up watching his football team Plymouth Argyle, as he was warned the excitement could kill him.
His daughter Melissa, 25, was so inspired by how medicine transformed her dad’s life that she is now training to be a doctor, while Lucy, 21, has a corporate job.
Paul said: "I didn't expect to see my daughters grow up. As the years went by I felt fine."
He returned to the hospital where the surgery was performed last year to be told it was "uncharted territory" that he had survived for so long.
Paul, who gave up working as an electrician due to his health problems, now lives at home with his parents in Plymouth, Devon, after splitting from wife Sarah.
He also received a kidney transplant after being on dialysis for six years, after the "toxic" drug he was given after the op caused problems.
Paul supports a change in the law for organ donation to the “opt-out” system adopted by Wales two years ago.
He said: "A third of patients die while waiting for a transplant.
"There is so much technology now that they can keep people alive long enough, on a machine, keeping them well enough to wait for a transplant.
"But you haven't got a quality of life - you can't do anything."
Paul was planning to celebrate his 50th birthday in August with a party surrounded by family and friends.
(The SUN, UK)
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