Most of us take breathing for granted.
Prepare to be blown away by the beautiful power of a healthy pair of lungs, as Paula Massie takes her first deep breath in 10 years.
The 40-year-old from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire in Scotland was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2009, a condition that caused a serious strain on her lungs.
It became so severe that Paula, who prior to her diagnosis worked as a pupil support assistant, was unable to do simple tasks such as take a short walk without becoming breathless.
Pulmonary hypertension can also cause fatigue, blackouts and swelling of the ankles, arms and stomach.
Paula’s heart was forced to work overtime, and as a result, grew to four times its natural size.
In 2018, doctors told the mum-of-one that she would need a double lung transplant and she was placed on the waiting list, where she remained for a year.
Go further down for video of Paula taking her first full breath in a decade.
The call came in the middle of the night – there was a fresh set of lungs available from an anonymous donor – and she was rushed into surgery.
‘On the night of my transplant I got a call around 2am and it all happened so quickly,’ Paula said.
‘Suddenly there was an ambulance at my door and I was sitting in the hospital two hours later.
‘At this point lots of checks were being done and it was only around 4pm that day I found out that it was going ahead and I was taken down to the theatre.
‘I remember feeling calm as I went down to surgery as I knew that this was what I needed to have a chance at life.’
Six weeks later, while recovering in hospital, Paula took her first long breath in over a decade – and it’s a beautiful sight.
She said: ‘I only have my donor to thank for changing my life completely.
‘I want to make the most of every second of my life in their memory.’
But that was not the end of Paula’s journey to recovery.
During her horrific ordeal, she had lost 20kg, so once discharged from the ICU at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, she still had to remain in hospital for 100 days in order to build up her body’s muscle mass.
The mum-of-one was eventually allowed to head home to her husband Malcom, 47, and 12-year-old foster son, Ollie.
It’s now one year later and Paula hasn’t wasted any time putting her new lungs to good use, having recently gone quad biking.
However, lockdown has put a temporary dent in her plans.
‘I have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of my life to prevent my body rejecting my new lungs and take several other medications too,’ she said.
‘It is all worth it as I am able to go out for a walk for enjoyment now and am able to do those things I’ve desperately wanted to do but couldn’t.
‘Just recently I went quad biking which was amazing.
‘Being in the extremely vulnerable group for Covid has meant that I have had to shield for the last few months, and have only recently been able to start going out.
‘It’s frustrating as I’ve just got my life back after years of being ill but I know the importance of protecting my precious lungs.’
Three years ago, Paula found out why she had suffered pulmonary hypertension; it was due to a gene mutation.
To help others who are going through similar situations, she will speaking at Organ Donation Week this September.
She added: ‘My main aim is to raise awareness about the topic of transplants and donors, and help support others who are going through the same painful experience as I did.’
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