In good heart 30 years on
Longest-surviving transplant patient, given just a decade
BRITAIN’S longest-surviving heart transplant patient is celebrating 30 years since his life-changing op – defying medics who said he would live for just another 10 years.
Paul Hayman, 49, underwent the transplant in 1987 and has had the same donor heart beating away inside his chest ever since. Sir Terence English, the surgeon who performed Britain’s first ever successful heart transplant, carried out the intricate operation.
Despite being warned the transplant would give him 10 years, Paul – who puts his resilience down to a relaxed outlook on life – is still going strong.
He passionately believes in organ donation and supports a change in the law to the “opt-out” system – meaning adults consent unless they say otherwise – adopted in Wales two years ago.
He said: “A third of patients die while waiting for a transplant.”
Dad-of-two Paul added: “Getting this heart was the greatest gift anyone in the world could receive. It’s a miracle. Every day I think, ‘It’s another day.’ I keep myself well and take it all in my stride.” Paul, who has also had a kidney transplant, added: “I’ve been really, really lucky. I do have to pinch myself each day as I can’t comprehend that I’m still here.”
The previous longest survivor was John McCafferty, 73, who died last year – 33 years after his transplant.
The Daily Mirror is campaigning for opt-out organ donation across the UK.