麻豆社

As Norway鈥檚 crown princess, Mette-Marit, convalesces from lung transplant surgery, we bring together patients and doctors to share their experiences of this major life-saving procedure.

Since the 1980s, lung transplantations have become increasingly routine, but as every operation relies on suitable donor organs becoming available, the timing is always uncertain.

鈥淓verything was so quick, everything was so scary,鈥� says Aimee Morrison, who received her new lungs last year, only months after being told she had a chronic degenerative condition, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 really get an opportunity to think about what鈥檚 happening 鈥� 10-12 hr surgery, unknown results, what鈥檚 going to happen afterwards鈥︹�� As we hear, Aimee鈥檚 story was particularly dramatic as only a week before her operation she had given birth to her daughter.

Lung transplant patients require life-long aftercare from physicians like Dr Vicky Gerovasili, as their condition will always eventually deteriorate. 鈥淭hat can be very emotionally stressful,鈥� she says,鈥漛ut it's also very rewarding because we are becoming part of their life and their family. I sign off patients to go scuba diving, travel the world and that's fantastic to see.鈥�

Presenter: James Reynolds
麻豆社 producers: Ryan Keane and Lindsay Brown
Boffin Media producer: Anne McNaught
Editor: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the 麻豆社 World Service Outside Source team

(Photo: Norway鈥檚 crown princess, Mette-Marit before her operation. Credit: Getty)