Celebrating 40 Years of Life

In October 2027, I will celebrate an incredible milestone: 40 years since receiving the heart transplant that gave me a second chance at life.

At just five months old, I was critically ill and placed on life support at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital while waiting for a donor heart. After six agonising weeks, a suitable heart became available, and an eight-hour transplant operation began the remarkable journey that continues today.

None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of my donor family. At a time of unimaginable loss, they made a decision that gave me the chance to grow up, experience life and reach this milestone. My 40th anniversary is also an opportunity to honour them, remember the precious gift they gave and encourage more families to have conversations about organ donation.

To mark the anniversary, we are bringing together family, friends, medical professionals and supporters for a very special celebration of life. We also want to use the occasion to raise vital funds for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF).

CHUF is a wonderful charity supporting children and families receiving treatment through the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Its work helps make an incredibly difficult journey a little easier for young patients and their loved ones, while also supporting the exceptional medical teams who care for them.

By donating, you will be helping an incredible cause that is very close to my heart, while celebrating the donor family, medical professionals and supporters who made my own journey possible.

Thank you for helping us turn 40 years of life into a legacy that can make a difference to others.