A young Irish woman has made medical history after a double world-first operation to cure her lung condition.
Becky Jones, 20, who is now out of intensive care following surgery, said: “I can’t, for the life of me, remember feeling so well. The world is officially my oyster.”
She made history twice by being the first patient to have a lung transplant while suffering from multi-resistant Aspergillus, a common airborne fungus, and multiple fungal balls in her old lungs.
Lung transplant patients have never before been able to have the operation while suffering from either of these conditions.
She was airlifted from her home in Dublin for the ground-breaking treatment by world-leading experts at the University Hospital of South Manchester in Wythenshawe.
Aspergillus is a large number of diseases involving both infectionand growth of fungus as well as allergic responses.
The condition had left Becky virtually house-bound, unable to walkproperly, climb stairs or go out with friends.
She had been on the waiting list for more than a year and was accepted for transplant only because the hospital also houses the National Aspergillosis Centre, which specialises in treating the condition. On May 29 she underwent the historic op and just 18 days later is outof intensive care, tucking into her food and making plans for a future.
She added: “Words simply cannot begin to describe the pure relief I feel.
“The chains have been lifted. I can breathe. I now plan to travel and study fashion design at college.”
Professor David Denning, who is director of the NAC, said: “Becky’s transplant brings together a remarkable set of expertises in fungalinfection, molecular testing, advanced transplantation techniques and intensive care, all under one roof.
“With increasing antifungal resistance since 2004, she is a courageous torchbearer for others.”
Becky developed Aspergillosis because she has cystic fibrosis.
Source: The Mirror (London, England)