A Carfin woman has embarked on a walking challenge like no other, to mark the 30-year anniversary of her life saving liver transplant.
As a fundraising challenge, Heather and her family have walked the 810-mile round trip from Law Hospital to Kings College Hospital, London and back. The two hospitals, which helped save her life.
The money is being raised in memory of an NHS Lanarkshire doctor, who diagnosed her those 30 years ago.
Heather Lindsay was 21 when she began to feel unwell.
Heather said: “In December 1991 I began to feel really tired all the time. I had no energy and I could sleep 24 hours a day. My legs and tummy were beginning to swell up.
“By the beginning of June, I couldn’t cope with daily life as I was becoming increasingly unwell. I began to feel really sick and my skin and whites of my eyes were turning yellow. I was being sick and I had diarrhoea.
“My mum phoned the GP, who made a house call. When he came in he said he needed to phone an ambulance. The ambulance came and took me to Law Hospital.
“Luckily for me Dr Crofton was on duty that day.”
Dr Crofton began doing multiple tests and research to diagnose Heather.
Heather said: “Dr Crofton came back later that afternoon and said its worse than we thought. That he had been speaking to Kings College Hospital in London and believed the problem was something to do with a genetic disorder in my liver. That my liver was badly damaged and that the only thing that was going to help was a transplant.”
Heather was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease; a rare inherited disorder that causes copper to accumulate in your vital organs. In Heather’s case, the organ being affected was her liver.
Heather added: “I was flown down to Kings College Hospital by air ambulance and then wheeled into intensive care. From there everything happened so quickly. My kidneys started to fail and I needed dialysis. I was added to the national transplant list and from there, a liver was found a few days later.
“It’s strange; my Dad passed away when I was 11. I could have sworn I heard his voice the night before my transplant saying that I was going to be ok. I’m not a very decisive person in life or a very confident person. But I knew I was going to be ok.
“I am so incredibly lucky. It was such a selfless thing my donor’s family did. They let me live.
“I recently learned the donor was from Germany. It was from girl the same age as me, who was 21. Her liver was sent to me with love.
“There is not a day that goes past where I am not grateful to the donor and her family.”
To mark the monumental 30th anniversary of her transplant, Heather and a team of ten of her family and friends are raising money to donate to the two hospitals.
Heather said: “It’s 405 miles from Carluke to the hospital in London. So we decided to virtually walk that distance together.
“After surpassing the milestone to get there, we added on the journey back. It has been a great motivator for people to get outside and look after themselves after the last year and a half we have had.”
Half of the money raised will be donated to Kings College in London. The other half will be donated to NHS Lanarkshire’s endowment fund in memory of Doctor Crofton.
Heather added: “Wilson’s disease is really rare. If it wasn’t for Doctor Crofton. looking into it and diagnosing me, then I wouldn’t be here today.
“He pulled me through a lot of dark times over my life as he also diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He was a marvellous man and was there for me.
“It’s incredible to think that it’s been 30 years. I would like to make everyone aware that organ donation is so important. It’s important to speak to your family and friends and let them know your wishes. It’s the most selfless and amazing gift you can give.
“It’s an amazing step towards giving someone that second chance at life and I’ve had that second chance that I will be eternally grateful for.”
To donate to Heather’s fundraising efforts, visit: JustGiving
