To donor families and all potential donor families

On the 29^th June 1988 at The Countess of Chester Hospital,  a new bundle of joy was born to Janis and Michael Harrison. Unfortunately before the parents had chance to meet their new baby girl, nurses whisked her way. It was a nerve wracking time for the couple as they were told doctors had been called and tests were being conducted on their baby girl, whom they came to name Leah.Where to start… 29^th June 1988 sounds like a good place.

Eventually senior doctors  summoned the couple into a room and proceeded to shatter  their dreams. The test results had shown Leah to have a left ventricle diverticulum. A rare condition affecting the heart muscle, causing it to sag and create an excess pouch causing the heart not to function properly. This tiny helpless baby only a few hours old was given just two months to live.

Fast forward 16 years later and Leah is no longer the same weak and fragile little girl. She amazed doctors by “defeating all odds” and living an active childhood. Throughout her childhood, Leah showed determination and a fighting spirit as she joined in with the other children, running, and climbing, doing all the things the other more healthy children were able to do. Nothing deterred her. At  16 years of age Leah even went abroad with her friend. It was on this holiday that she met Michael.

Michael was 10 months older than Leah. It was his first holiday abroad with his mates. He was tall dark and handsome. The couple first began talking in a bar in Salou, Spain named Charlie Chaplins. Michael was one of a kind, he was charming, caring and courteous. He made a woman feel like a princess.  From the moment Leah returned from her holiday, she knew she had to be with him. Michaels’ feelings were mutual and the couple became inseparable. Leah lived in Chester and Michael lived in South Wales but distance was no obstacle for the couple as they travelled to/ from each others’ home towns. One day Michael noticed Leah taking her medication and asked what the medicines were for. Put on the spot Leah informed him of her heart condition and from that moment on Michael became what she described as “her guardian angel”

Our first summer together

Fast forward three months after the holiday. The couple had returned to normality, Leah attended her hairdressing course at Halton college in Runcorn, Cheshire. Michael had finished and celebrated completing his A-levels in South Wales. He had taken a gap year starting a three year vehicle technician apprenticeship with Ferrari. The couple had been travelling back and forth for three months solid and decided they needed to be together. Michael moved to Runcorn to live with Leah. Work was scarce and Michael became homesick but he didn’t want to leave Leah’s side. Eventually the time came for Michael to return to South Wales to live. This time Leah joined him. The couple began living with Michaels parents before finding a place of their own in Cardiff, South Wales.

The relationship grew stronger and on Christmas Eve 2005 Michael proposed to Leah asking her to do him the honour of becoming is wife. Without hesitation Leah proudly agreed. Before long a date was set for 11^th July 2009 and preparations were underway for what Leah describes as one of the best days of her life. As time passed by Leah’s health deteriorated and in May 2009 she was given the news that a heart transplant was imminent. Leah’s heart was now deteriorated faster than her body could cope with. Medication was increased in an attempt to slow down the process of heart failure this resulted in many visits to the University of Wales hospital. The wedding day came and went and it was a truly memorable and magical day for everyone concerned.

However soon after the couple returned from their honeymoon Leah’s heart condition deteriorated yet further and she now found it impossible to get around. Wheelchair and housebound, Michael cared for her whilst still undertaking his apprenticeship programme. Michael would even travel home during his lunch to check on her and make her lunch.  On one of Leah’s visits to the University of Wales hospital she was informed she needed a pacemaker and defibrillator fitted as her heart could stop at any time. The idea was that should this happen, the defibrillator would kick start her heart giving the paramedics and resuscitation team a chance to get to her. A referral was then made to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she was assessed for cardiac transplantation.  Meetings between top heart consultants were conducted and it was decided that Leah was an ideal candidate for transplantation and on 26^th August 2010 Leah signed the consent forms giving surgeons permission to look for a donor heart.

It was whilst waiting for the pacemaker and defibrillator to be fitted that Leah and Michael recieved  a telephone call stating a donor heart had been located. The couple were asked to travel to Birmingham for the operation to go ahead. Unfortunately despite travelling to Birmingham the donor heart was deemed unsuitable. Three days later Leah was scheduled to go into the University of Wales Hospital where a pacemaker and defibrillator would be fitted. An operation that should have taken 3 -3.5 hours to perform, took  surgeons 5 hours as problems occurred due to the size of the heart and adjoining veins. Within 2 hours of Leah returning from surgery a second phone call was received notifying hospital staff a donor heart had been located and arrangements needed to be made to take Leah to Birmingham as soon as possible. Leah travelled the 2 hour journey to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in an ambulance and again preparations were fast underway for her to receive the donor heart should it be deemed suitable. Unfortunately this heart was unsuitable so Leah was transferred back to South Wales.

Our heroes return party

Prior to Leah’s health deteriorating she had been looking forward to greeting her brother Mark on his return from Afghanistan. There was to be a ‘Family of our Heroes Return Party held in Ripon, North Yorkshire. Leah had bought herself a new dress for the occasion and had been excited at the thought of being there to see her brothers’ safe return. After much consideration and in view of the previous two donor hearts being unsuitable Leah and Michael made the journey to Ripon stopping along the way so that Leah could rest. Once at the army barracks Leah and Michael were joined by Leah’s mum, step dad and younger brother. Celebrations were underway and although Leah could not drink, dance and be merry she enjoyed the experience as if it were her last. Michael joined in the celebrations and had a few beers with his new family. Something he enjoyed doing as he had not drunk any alcohol for some time in case a phone call came from Birmingham.

The night went well and at 11pm Leah and Michael retired to their beds, as the travel and celebration had taken its toll on Leah. No sooner had they got into their bed, they received a phone call on Leah’s mobile informing them a donor heart had been found. Panic stricken the couple notified other family members. Michael struggled with the fact that he could not drive therefore could not get his wife to the hospital. Being surrounded by heroes helped that day as they lived up to their name. Leah’s brother Mark notified his sergeant of the predicament and arrangements were put in place for a driver and a car to transport Leah, Michael and Leah’s family to Birmingham. Michael’s family were also notified and made their way up from South Wales to support them.

Once at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham Leah was immediately taken to the pre-assessment area to be prepped and await confirmation that the heart would be suitable or unsuitable. Waiting throughout the night was torture and at 6am on the 1^st October Leah was given the news that the heart was a good match and the operation would go ahead.

At 8am it was time to say goodbye to everyone. Leah cannot begin to describe the feeling that overwhelmed her, having to look into each of her loved ones eyes as if it was the last time. The image of them standing there watching as they wheeled her down to the theatre for open heart surgery. Leah always knew the day would come but at the tender age of just 22 years she was about to undergo her biggest challenge yet.

This is my story. My name is Leah… and I have one question to ask you. “What would it feel like if you were faced with losing a loved one, when they could be saved?”. Donors are hard to come by and may be the hardest thing you’ll ever commit to. If you don’t take the time to tell anyone how will they know?The operation was a success and recovery was quick just a mere 14 days and discharged from hospital on day 15.  After care consisted of weekly visits to Birmingham so Michael and Leah had to consider moving back to the area in which she was brought up as it was closer to the hospital. Luckily for them this was all taken care of by family members on both sides who dedicated time and money in helping them relocate, allowing Leah the opportunity to live closer to her mum.  Family members from both sides helped transport all of their furniture to their new property as well as paint and decorate it. When Leah was discharged from hospital Michael and leah were surprised to find that all of the stress had been taken from their shoulders and all they had to do was move in and enjoy their new home.

I have asked to know the identity of the family who lost a loved one that day and I understand that this is not possible, but whoever you are, wherever you are I would like to convey my deepest and most meaningful heartfelt condolences and thank each one of you for your generosity at what must have been such a hard decision to make and see through. I will always be indebted to you.

All my love Leah x

UPDATE! Leah is going to be climbing Snowdonia in June to raise money for the British Heart Foundation! –> Leah’s Snowdonia challenge for the British Heart Foundation

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