This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8010780.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Transplant family's 'heart trick' | Transplant family's 'heart trick' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A Scottish family could become the first in the UK to undergo three heart transplants. | A Scottish family could become the first in the UK to undergo three heart transplants. |
| Stephen Moffat, 12, from Cleland, Lanarkshire, and Rachael, 7, were the first siblings to have transplants for a hereditary heart problem. | Stephen Moffat, 12, from Cleland, Lanarkshire, and Rachael, 7, were the first siblings to have transplants for a hereditary heart problem. |
| Now their father, Andrew, 45, requires the operation for the same condition. | Now their father, Andrew, 45, requires the operation for the same condition. |
| He told the BBC Scotland news website: "It is very rare. Rather than a hat trick - we would be going for a 'heart trick'." | He told the BBC Scotland news website: "It is very rare. Rather than a hat trick - we would be going for a 'heart trick'." |
| He has had problems with his heart since childhood but it was not until he and his wife, Mary, became concerned about their children's health that they realised a condition ran in the family. | He has had problems with his heart since childhood but it was not until he and his wife, Mary, became concerned about their children's health that they realised a condition ran in the family. |
| Mr Moffat, who is a nurse and midwife at Wishaw General Hospital, said: "It was when Rachel started school that I began to wonder if something was wrong. She was always tired and didn't want to go to her dancing or do any other activities. | Mr Moffat, who is a nurse and midwife at Wishaw General Hospital, said: "It was when Rachel started school that I began to wonder if something was wrong. She was always tired and didn't want to go to her dancing or do any other activities. |
| "Then Stephen, who is a keen footballer, collapsed on two occasions. The doctors thought it might be asthma and they told us not to worry about Rachael as some children just tire easily." | "Then Stephen, who is a keen footballer, collapsed on two occasions. The doctors thought it might be asthma and they told us not to worry about Rachael as some children just tire easily." |
| It is hard because the children are so well now and they want to go out and be active and do things but dad can't join them and can't play with them Mary Moffat | It is hard because the children are so well now and they want to go out and be active and do things but dad can't join them and can't play with them Mary Moffat |
| But the Moffats pushed for more tests and eventually a consultant at Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow discovered they both had restrictive cardiomyopathy. | But the Moffats pushed for more tests and eventually a consultant at Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow discovered they both had restrictive cardiomyopathy. |
| The family were advised that Stephen should be put on the transplant list as soon as possible as his next collapse could be fatal. They were also told that Rachel would need a transplant within a few years. | The family were advised that Stephen should be put on the transplant list as soon as possible as his next collapse could be fatal. They were also told that Rachel would need a transplant within a few years. |
| "We were shocked when they mentioned transplants," said Mrs Moffat. | "We were shocked when they mentioned transplants," said Mrs Moffat. |
| "To look at our children they were healthy and active and to suddenly be told that they have the same heart condition and both might need transplants was amazing. | "To look at our children they were healthy and active and to suddenly be told that they have the same heart condition and both might need transplants was amazing. |
| "From then on it was an emotional rollercoaster." | "From then on it was an emotional rollercoaster." |
| Donors list | Donors list |
| Eight days after Stephen's name was put on the list in November 2007 the family got a call to say a donor had been found. | Eight days after Stephen's name was put on the list in November 2007 the family got a call to say a donor had been found. |
| The operation was carried out at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle where the UK's first successful heart transplant on a child was performed in 1987. | The operation was carried out at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle where the UK's first successful heart transplant on a child was performed in 1987. |
| Last August the family were back at hospital for Rachael to have a transplant. | Last August the family were back at hospital for Rachael to have a transplant. |
| "We had a much longer wait for a donor for Rachael," Mrs Moffat said. | "We had a much longer wait for a donor for Rachael," Mrs Moffat said. |
| "After Stephen's operation her health deteriorated and the doctors were keen to move forward with a transplant. But we were up and down to the hospital five times in five months until a perfect match was found." | "After Stephen's operation her health deteriorated and the doctors were keen to move forward with a transplant. But we were up and down to the hospital five times in five months until a perfect match was found." |
| The siblings are now the picture of health. In March they spent a week in the Swiss Alps on a skiing trip organised by Tackers, a charity that runs adventure camps for children who have been through a transplant. | The siblings are now the picture of health. In March they spent a week in the Swiss Alps on a skiing trip organised by Tackers, a charity that runs adventure camps for children who have been through a transplant. |
| However, their father Andrew collapsed in January and was rushed to hospital with heart failure. | However, their father Andrew collapsed in January and was rushed to hospital with heart failure. |
| The siblings have made a full recovery following successful transplants | The siblings have made a full recovery following successful transplants |
| He said: "Sitting here right now I feel not bad but I cannot work or doing anything strenuous. | |
| "I have been told I will require a transplant but the longer I wait the more complicated it could become. We have to make a decision soon about what do do." | |
| Mrs Moffat said: "It is hard because the children are so well now and they want to go out and be active and do things but dad can't join them and can't play with them." | Mrs Moffat said: "It is hard because the children are so well now and they want to go out and be active and do things but dad can't join them and can't play with them." |
| The Moffat family are now keen to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. | The Moffat family are now keen to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. |
| Mrs Moffat added: "I would say to any parent, if you found out tomorrow your two children needed heart transplants the expectation would be there that you would receive them before they died. | Mrs Moffat added: "I would say to any parent, if you found out tomorrow your two children needed heart transplants the expectation would be there that you would receive them before they died. |
| "But the reality is that doesn't always happen. | "But the reality is that doesn't always happen. |
| "We have been very fortunate receiving hearts in time for our children but other families are not so fortunate." | "We have been very fortunate receiving hearts in time for our children but other families are not so fortunate." |