Posted by 
A paramedic from Leyland has spoken out about her three-and-a-half year wait for a liver transplant to raise awareness for organ donation in the UK.
Heather Berry, 39, started as a call handler for the North West Ambulance Service 16 years ago.
Heather spent much of her youth being monitored by herpetologists and on medication due to her rare liver condition, Biliary Atresia. With this condition, there is a blockage in the tubes that bring bile from the liver to the gallbladder.
Read more: Mountain rescue hero who works at BAE Systems Samlesbury is honoured
She was supplied with temporary fixes by her local doctors who were unable to provide her with a transplant, despite her failing liver.
When she was places on the liver transplant list in 2020 after a particularly scary night.
She said: “I awoke jaundiced after going to bed the previous night without any, which was alarming and frightening.
“I was referred to St James University Hospital in Leeds to see the transplant specialists and was placed on the transplant register in 2020 for a liver transplant.”
Eventually, Heather’s liver failed and she was placed atop the list for a liver transplant, but what was initially advised as a six month wait eventually turned into three and a half years.
Read more: Leyland-born Liv Cooke among the thousands evacuated as a result of LA wildfires
Heather said: “I was scared and worried when I found out I needed a transplant, but I accepted it well as I knew it was inevitable. All I could do was wait and hope.”
Heather’s transplant was finally available on 6 July 2023, after initially being placed on the transplant list in early 2020.
She added: “I had been working a day shift on the day that I got the call to say they had a liver donation for me, and I needed to go for the transplant. I was called at 1:55am and needed to be at St James Hospital in Leeds by 4am.
“I was shocked, emotional, scared but also excited and relieved. There were a lot of tears, I rang my parents and my best friend (fellow paramedic) Leigh – there were many emotions and tears from them too.”
Heather described her wait as ‘horrible’.
She said: “Life was completely on hold. I had to always remain within two hours of St James Hospital, my phone had to be constantly on, and I was required to carry a hospital ‘go bag’ with me wherever I went.
“The deterioration in my health meant I became increasingly worried that I wouldn’t get a new liver on time and would die.”
This meant that she could not travel far from her Leyland home, which is one hour away from Leeds. She also had to leave her 14-year-old daughter as she underwent surgeries in Leeds.
Heather said: “It’s been difficult for my 14-year-old daughter, spending so much time away from her, trying to reassure and protect her has been very tough and I know she has really struggled too. She has made me very proud of her and how she has coped with everything.”
Heather is gradually returning to work and home, but still frequently has to visit St James University Hospital in Leeds.
Read more: Children in Lancashire as young as eight supported by crime prevention initiative
Despite her challenges, Heather is grateful for everything she has received.
She said: “I have been given the most amazing gift that anyone could ever receive – the gift of life. I am eternally grateful to my donor and his family. I have personally decided to never drink alcohol and will do everything I can to protect it.”
She hopes to return to the front line to get back to the face-to-face contact with patients.
Heather said: “I have been given the most amazing gift that anyone could ever receive – the gift of life. I am eternally grateful to my donor and his family. I have personally decided to never drink alcohol and will do everything I can to protect it.
“Organ donation is not an easy decision at such a difficult time, but we must have organ donors to enable people like me to go on living. I would advise and encourage anyone to be an organ donor or to donate family or friend’s organs if asked to do so.”
Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines
