Double-lung transplant saved Kirsty’s life – can you spare a moment?
INSPIRATIONAL Kirsty Geddes has spoken of how she received the “greatest gift of all” and how you can help to save lives.
The 28-year-old was born with cystic fibrosis, a condition which clogs the body’s organs with thick, sticky mucus.
By 2009 the former Lenzie Academy pupil’s future looked bleak as she suffered a number of lung collapses and was placed on the organ transplant waiting list.
Kirsty explained: “In the July I went to Rockness thinking that it would be the last time I’d ever go to a rock festival.
“I ended up getting an infection and the doctor started talking about palliative care – there was a high chance that I would die.
“I got through it, but that was the end of the line for me because another infection would have killed me.
“By the end I was on oxygen and a ventilator and almost in a wheelchair.”
But then, eight months after being placed on the waiting list, Kirsty received the call she’d been dreaming of and was taken to hospital for the eight-hour transplant operation.
After a few setbacks – Kirsty suffered two bouts of pneumonia, chicken pox and acute rejection in the year after the operation – she has gone from strength to strength.
She completed a course in make-up artistry from Coatbridge College in October, winning the institution’s highest accolade along the way, and landed a dream job working for the exclusive MAC Cosmetics range.
She also regularly runs 10k races to raise money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis and organ donor charities.
None of her triumphs would have been possible without her donor and her donor’s family.
Kirsty said: “It’s the most amazing gift of all and I know I’ll never get a better present. I’ll be forever grateful that the donor took the time to sign the register and talk to her family.”
Signing up for the register is easy - just go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 1232323, or text ‘SAVE’ to 84118.
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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