Liver transplant patient thanks QEHB for saving her life!
Recently QEHB Charity held an event to celebrate the 5,000th Liver Transplant that had taken place in Birmingham. One of those 5,000 liver transplant recipients included a wonderful woman named Christine Wong. On the date of the event, Christine turned 76 and celebrated 30 successful years with her transplanted liver.
During the early 80’s, Christine started to feel unwell she said: “I continued to work despite whatever my illness was. I remember going back home to Sarawak to see family and friends in early May 1988. I took this trip because I knew I was very ill and didn’t know if I would be able to see them again.”
Christine was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on 29 July 1989.
Little did she know that this was the start of the process that would change her life completely. Christine was told that she was seriously ill and required a new liver. Christine said: “I was lucky though as within a fortnight I had ‘the call’, it was 30 August 1989 at 4.30pm, they called me to come back to hospital as they had had a donor provide a liver that was suitable for me.
“This year I turned 76 on the same day as the 5,000 liver transplant celebrations and I was lucky that I had a friend who would bring me along so that I could celebrate both. I had a lovely time, it was really nice talking to other transplant patients and it also made me realised how lucky I was, many of the people I spoke with have had to have two or three operations. My life is full and I am lucky to enjoy each day as it comes. I am also very grateful to the person and their family who gave me my life back by donating their liver, I also am grateful to Dr John Bercow and Dr Neuberger for operating on me so skilfully and all these wonderful people and facilities that saved my life and allowed me to live on.”
To help support the Liver Unit into funding for vital new research to create more success stories like Christine’s, please donate today at hospitalcharity.org/liverfoundationuk