Two transplant recipients from Royal Papworth have shared their stories of celebrating life with 2025 marking 40 years since their respective heart transplants.
Pam and Alan had their heart transplants 40 years ago
Both Pam, from Gosport in Hampshire and Alan, from Ballymena in Northern Ireland, received heart transplants in 1985 and we caught up with them both after routine clinic appointments yesterday to discover more.
Pam outside Royal Papworth Hospital
Pam was just 10 years old when she had her transplant at Papworth. Born with cardiomyopathy she was often poorly throughout her childhood, before her condition deteriorated further.
“Thankfully my transplant came at just the right time. I don’t think I had much longer left,” she reflected.
“I remember getting the phone call and we all bundled into the car quickly and drove up. All I wanted to do was finish my dinner!”
“I think I was the youngest person to have receive a transplant at the time.
“I’ve lived a pretty normal life since my transplant. I’ve got married, lived well, had lots of good times and I’m so grateful for it.
“Papworth have been brilliant. They’ve always been there, they support me all the time and they’ve seen me through my life really, the ups and the downs. It’s really reassuring to have them here and the staff are amazing.”
Alan
Alan, meanwhile, was just 18 when he had his heart transplant at Papworth.
Also being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, he wasn’t originally told by his local hospital that he may eventually need a heart transplant.
However on New Year’s Eve in 1984 he was taken back into hospital with heart failure and was then told the news. He later travelled to Cambridgeshire for tests before being accepted onto the urgent waiting list. He received his heart transplant at Papworth the following summer.
“I was in Belfast when we got the call and I remember they held the last flight leaving for London. My ambulance went onto the runway, I boarded the plane and off we went,” he explained.
Alan walked his daughter Megan down the aisle at her wedding on his 40th transplant anniversary
Fast-forward to the present day and the dad of two celebrated the 40th anniversary of his heart transplant earlier this summer in the most magical way - by walking his daughter Megan down the aisle at her wedding.
He said proudly: “It’s a day we’ll never forget. We’ve always celebrated my anniversary and remembered my donor, but to have marked it in this way, what a moment.”
“To my donor and their family who agreed to give that young man’s heart to me, thank you. It’s given me 40 years, I’ve had a family and it’s been incredible so far.”
Alan and Pam with Royal Papworth transplant clinicians past and present: (r-l) Professor John Wallwork, our former chairman; Dr Clive Lewis, Consultant Cardiologist; Dr Sai Bhagra, Consultant Cardiologist
Neither Pam or Alan would have enjoyed the 80 years of life between them so far without the gift of organ donation.
Please, if you’re reading this, take just a couple of minutes to confirm your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. You could save up to nine lives.