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The gift of life that let Lynda go for gold
Fifteen years ago, Lynda Morrison under went a heart transplant when she was seven. Without the transplant she would have died from cardiomyopathy.
Now Lynda, 22, has just returned from the British Transplant Games with three gold medals for swimming and a special cup for the
best overall female athlete in the water.
What makes Lynda's achievement even greater is that two-and-a-half years ago she had to have a kidney transplant, which she got from her mother, Kerry.
"Linda has three kidneys and I have one," jokes Kerry, from Harrogate.
Lynda has competed in the British Transplant Games since she was a child, but had to take a couple of years off when she had her kidney transplant.
But this month she proved that she was back with a vengeance, scooping three golds in the pool and the special Victrix Ludorum
Cup at the games in Coventry.
For Lynda, who now hopes to go on to compete in the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games, in Sweden, next year, it was recognition of all the hard work she puts in at the Hyrdo in Harrogate.
"I train two or three times a week. It is hard work but it is worth it," says Lynda, who works at the Cancer Research UK charity shop in Harrogate. "The atmosphere was brilliant, and meeting all the people and, of course, winning the medals, was fantastic."
To mark the 10th anniversary of the heart transplant at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, Lynda travelled with her family to the Olympic Games in Athens, thanks to the charity Make-Wish-Foundation.
When she was 13, the former St Aidan's School pupil was chosen to head a national campaign to encourage more people to carry donor cards. It resulted in more than 14,000 people signing up.
Since then, she and her family have raised thousands of pounds for the Freeman and for Heart Research UK, the national charity, based in Leeds, which funded the first seven heart transplants and also sponsors the Transplant Games
Heart Research UK national director, Barbara Harpham, said: "Without that research, Lynda's family realise that she might not be here today, and we are very grateful for their support.
"Lynda has done exceptionally well and we are all very proud of her. When you have had a transplant it is very important to keep fit and healthy. She is a great example of what a gift of life can achieve."
It was the gift of a donor heart from France and the skill of the staff at the Freeman Hospital that saved Lynda's life.
"We are so grateful to all the medical staff who have cared for Lynda in both her transplants," says Kerry.
"No-one likes talking about death but if it had not been for someone agreeing for their loved one's heart to be donated, Lynda might not be here and achieving such amazing things."
"We have never managed to get in touch with the donor family, who live near Amiens, northern France.
"Now, 15 years on, it would be very special to be able to pass on that gratitude to them, to let them know of the immense value of their gift," says Kerry.
Barbara added: "There are only 150 heart transplants a year, and hundreds of people on the register. People are dying while waiting for a heart transplant."
For more information on Heart Research UK, visit www.heartresearch.org.uk or for more on how
to become an organ donor log on to www.uk transplant.org.uk
Transplants
A total of 1,545 transplants have been performed at the Freeman Hospital since 1985, (Lynda was number 492), including 168 heart transplants for children.
The transplant centre was set up by Christopher McGregor, in 1985, and has been led by Professor John Dark since 1987.
Some 507 patients have received a heart transplant at the Freeman Hospital in the last 15 years
Last year, 3,504 organ transplants were carried out, an 11 per cent increase on 2007/08.
The number of patients on the organ transplant waiting list is more than 8,000 at present.
Hall of fame – Yorkshire's competitors in the british transplant games
Lynda Morrison was not the only Yorkshire transplant recipient to take part and succeed in this year's British Transplant Games in Coventry.
Natalie Acott, 15, Woodhouse, Sheffield
Nathalie underwent a kidney transplant in September 1995, when she was one year old. Natalie is still in contact with the family of her donor. She competed in the long jump, ball throw and 100 metres track.
Jonathan Bowman, 23, Bradford
Jonathan won gold in the 5km walk. He has had a kidney transplant and has competed in several British Transplant Games. Since his transplant, Jonathan has also taken part in a charity scuba dive to raise money for kidney research.
Afton Gemmell, 18, Selby
Afton underwent two liver transplants within the space of three days in January 2006, and has since competed in several Transplant Games.
n Michael Gibbons, 73
Skipton
Michael's kidney was donated to him by his wife in December 2007 – making it the ultimate Christmas present. He won gold in the squash and mini-marathon this year.
John Harrison, 65, Tadcaster
John had a heart transplant in 1996. At the British Games this year, he competed in the fishing, archery and lawn bowls events.
Sid Lamb, 58, Selby
Sid underwent a heart transplant in 2004. He competed in the golf, bowls, table tennis and shot putt events at this year's Games.
Tom Molloy, 55, Beverley
Tom's transplant is amazingly nearly 25 years old. He had a kidney transplant in 1985 and says the best thing about having a transplant is that it has enabled him to watch his family grow up around him. This year he won gold in the table tennis singles and bronze in the mixed volleyball open.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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