A WINNINGTON woman will celebrate two years since undergoing a heart transplant that has given her a new lease of line next month.
Charlotte Carney, 23, was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure following a heart screening in 2016.
But she has since completed her university degree and started working full time after the successful operation at Wythenshawe Hospital on February 27, 2018.
She will mark the milestone by hosting a sell-out black tie event to raise money for two charities that supported her immensely over the past few years.
Charlotte is hoping to raise £5000 each for CRY, set up by Debbie Dixons in memory of her son Aaron, and New Start, a heart and lung transplant centre at Wythenshawe Hospital.
“Life has been great since I had the transplant,” said the former forensic psychology student at Liverpool John Moores University who graduated last July.
“I feel back to normal, am now working full time at Vodafone and the transplant really has given me a new lease of life.
“I wanted to host a fundraiser to support the charities that helped me, as CRY were the ones who screened and diagnosed me, and New Start is the unit at Wythenshawe Hospital where I had my operation.
“Two years is a massive milestone, especially considering that I was told I wouldn’t live for that long without having the transplant.
“The fundraiser is now sold out and there will be more than 150 people there, which is fantastic.”
A lot has changed since Charlotte received her new heart, as she got engaged to her fiancé Ciaran in August.
She has also seen the UK pass a new law stating that consent for organ donation will be presumed unless people have opted out.
This is due to come into effect in spring this year and is something that Charlotte is delighted to see happen.
“It’s great that the law has been passed and is in the process of coming into force,” she added.
“It is important for people to get talking and have that discussion with family members, and it is also good that families will have the final say.”
Despite her anniversary black tie fundraiser being sold out, Charlotte has set up an online donations page to raise money for her chosen charities.
If you would like to donate, you can do so via uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CharlotteCarney.
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