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Micky Byrne
Heart Transplant 9th March 1999
_________

Hi Folks

My name is Micky Byrne, and I had my Heart Transplant on March 9th, 1999.

After many years of incredibly bad health, as a child of 13 I had Rheumatic Fever. Then during my adult life until transplant, I had undergone a triple by-pass in 1983, the removal of a Brain tumour in 1993, then a quadruple by-pass in 1996, which unfortunately went Pear shaped. 

This left me with a very damaged heart and I was accessed for transplantation at Harefield Hospital. After I was put on the transplant list, Carlton TV asked me. If I would allow filming of my Transplant, should a Donor come up for me whilst they were doing a Documentary of Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub. As I am a real Ham, I agreed. The program was called the life saver, and was transmitted on March 22nd 2000. 

The night before I got my "call" I had just demolished a couple of helpings of a curry I had made, and was just half way through Coronation Street (TV Program), when Pam Baldock (transplant coordinator) called me and said "Micky, what are you doing tonight? fancy a new heart" The next call was from the Carlton team who were already parked outside my house. They knew I had a Donor several hours before me, and were ready to rush me to Harefield. When I got there, the tests were done, The heart was good and arrived early, so it left no time for a pre-med. I'm glad I had brown trousers on!! I met the Proff just before they put me out, and to meet him for the 1st time, knowing he was the best in the world, It was to me, like meeting God.

Everything went fine, with the exception of some damage to my vocal chords, which does occasionally happen during transplantation, and I was afraid it might jeopordise my career as a singer musician. I was home in just seventeen days, and I thank God, that to date I have not experienced any rejection. Within four months my voice had returned, I moved house two months later, and very soon after that, I resumed my career as a musician.

As I am writing this article, It is just before my 2nd M.O.T. (annual check-up), and may I thank The proff and the entire staff at Harefield Hospital for giving me my new life, and giving my beloved wife Julie some peace of mind, after all the worries she has had over me.

I hope you have found it interesting reading my story, and if any of you readers are awaiting a transplant, please go for it when the day arrives, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Hope you enjoyed my story, keep well, keep taking the pills.

Best Wishes     

        Micky Byrne 

Email Address:- micky@mickybyrne.co.uk

P.S. Just before Christmas, I received a letter from my Donor's wife and his mum and dad, It was the best Christmas pressy I've ever had.

       

Micky with his steel guitar &  Micky 2 years - Me 7 months - Jim 4 years

These photo's were taken at a gig Micky was doing on his transplant second year anniversary, his donor and their family were never far from our thoughts.