Kamila’s Heart Transplant Story
Hi, my name is Kamila, and I am now one year and nine months post-heart transplant.
Before my transplant, my life was very busy. I was a mum of three and spent most of my time caring for my daughter, who has special needs. After years at home, I was hoping to return to work and start doing the things I enjoyed again. My heart transplant came unexpectedly after surgery at another hospital in Manchester. What was supposed to be a standard operation to repair my mitral valve resulted in me having a cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure just one hour after surgery. I was clinically dead for 33 minutes.
The team from Wythenshawe Hospital came with an ECMO machine and transferred me to Wythenshawe, where I was sedated for more than a week. I was in an extremely serious condition, and the doctors weren't sure if I would survive the first night. But the amazing surgeons, doctors and nurses did everything they could to help me survive.
All of my organs needed support. I received litres of blood and, on several occasions, needed plasma exchange, which left me feeling extremely weak. I spent seven weeks in intensive care attached to a BiVAD. During the first week, I couldn't even lift my arm. I couldn't eat or drink, and I couldn't do any of the things I had been able to do before.
My heart had changed colour, looked as though it was no longer functioning, and had stopped pumping blood around my body. Thanks to the BiVAD, I was still alive, but I couldn't stay on the pump for much longer because it was starting to cause blood clots in my body.
It wasn't easy for me to understand what was happening, but I knew I needed a heart transplant very quickly. My blood group wasn't helping the situation either, so I was placed on the super-urgent transplant list as the first person on the list.
After around 10 days, my surgeon came to me with some amazing news: a heart was available for me. It felt like a miracle, especially so close to Christmas.
The best present I could ever have received was a second chance at life, so that I could be with my family.
19 December 2024 was the day I received my heart transplant.
Before my transplant surgery, I had four hours of plasma exchange to help reduce the risk of rejecting my new heart. I was so scared that night. I was frightened that I wouldn't wake up again and that I wouldn't see my children. But four days after my transplant, everything changed. My new heart was working perfectly, and when I woke up, all the machines were gone.
The strangest thing for me was hearing and feeling my new heartbeat after such a long time. I couldn't sleep for the first two nights because it was so loud!
My recovery wasn't easy. I had to learn how to walk again and gradually regain my independence. But the amazing physiotherapy team helped me build my strength back.
The first year was particularly difficult, especially with infections and illnesses, but I managed to get through that too. Now, there is nothing stopping me from enjoying my life again.
I am definitely calmer since my heart transplant, although I am still learning to be more positive. I feel like the happiest person in the world because I can watch my children grow, cuddle them and be there whenever they need me. That means everything to me.
Before my transplant, I had never really thought about organ donation. Now, I can only encourage other people not to be afraid to make the decision to become an organ donor.
I am so grateful to my amazing donor, who I think of as my guardian angel. She was there for me at exactly the right time, when I needed her most.
To the families who have lost their loved ones and made the decision to donate their organs: we, as recipients, will always think of you and feel incredibly grateful for the gift of life you have given us.
Your decision gives hope to other families. You become heroes in the little hearts of children like mine, because you have given them their mum back. Life is such a wonderful gift.
08/10/2026