british heart?|j am in support of the british heart?” am “— in support of the british heart?” am —— the british heart foundation. n. i started this year in february and i have walked 2600 miles, anticlockwise, so i have gone up miles, anticlockwise, so i have gone up to john o'groats miles, anticlockwise, so i have gone up tojohn o'groats in scotland and iam now up tojohn o'groats in scotland and i am now back down in wales currently, and hoping to finish about march next year. this is all for british heart foundation research, yes. so my website is a tale of two hearts, which is how i figure my life is. two lives, two hearts. have you ever found out anything about the person whose heart you know have? yes, i wrote to the donor's family and i was very lucky to receive a reply back, so i know some bit about my donor, and it is wonderful that i can just carry on doing amazing things with her heart. and on this anniversary have you been reflecting on those pioneering surgeons, the people who went through those early heart transplants to read to the point where you were able to have such a successful transplant and h

and this is all for british heart foundation research, yes. and have you ever found out anything about the person whose heart you now have? yes, i wrote to the donor's family and i was very lucky to receive a reply back, so i know some bits about my donor, and it's wonderful that i canjust carry on doing amazing things with her heart. and on this anniversary have you been reflecting on those pioneering surgeons, the people who went through those early heart transplants to lead to the point where you were able to have such a successful transplant and have been to effectively live a new life? yes, my open heart surgery i had when i was three was pioneering, all brand—new surgery. my generation of congenital heart patients were told we probably wouldn't reach 16, or adulthood or anything like that. so all the doctors have started to do this and the obviously do great research into the after—care. the reason why they are so successful is really from the after—care now. and the immune suppressant drugs and things like that, it is all much better no

he joins us now along with federica marelli—berg from the british heart foundation, who is in our londonnt. nine yea rs now is completely different. nine years ago my life prior transplant, my health was that bad that i couldn't brush my own teeth and tie my shoelaces and walk up and down the stairs and walk to the bathroom from the bedroom. i was blue lipped, severe pain, chest pain, couldn't breathe, i thought every time i went to bed it wasn't going to be it. being 14 or 15 with those thoughts isn't particularly great. fortu nately for isn't particularly great. fortunately for me i got my call and my heart transplant was a complete success. i have gone on to go to newcastle college and studied musical theatre and i've been on the west end stage and i've travelled to egypt and canada, america, i have spokenin egypt and canada, america, i have spoken in parliaments in regard to organ donation and now my life is incredible compared to what it was. tell us about the day you woke up after the transplant. i remember waking up in intensive care and just instantaneously feeling alive. even th