Scots cousins with same genetic disease reveal how heart transplants saved their lives aged just 45

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scottish cousins who received heart transplants at the same age in their mid-40s have spoken of the new lease of life their procedures have given them.Fraser Wilson, from Glasgow, and Louise Campbell, from Wishaw, were both 45 when they underwent life-saving surgery at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank.The pair both had the genetic disease cardiomyopathy and had lost parents and uncles to it prior to their operations.Fraser, 46, an area director for a bank in Glasgow, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy when he was just 14 and believed he would die a young man.He was further diagnosed with heart failure five years ago and had a defibrillator fitted but his health deteriorated last January.Speaking about the benefits of his surgery, he explained: “It’s phenomenal having this new heart, it’s hard to describe.

I just feel like everything has been sorted in me, like a 30-year weight has been lifted off my shoulders.“Because I was diagnosed so young I always just assumed I was going to die young, but now I genuinely have a new lease of life, it’s amazing.“I always thought positively of organ donation and wanted to be an organ donor, but wasn’t sure if my organs would be particularly useful.“But going through this process I obviously have a much better appreciation of all organ donation now."Louise, 47, also had a defibrillator fitted when she was just 18 and underwent her transplant when she was the same age as Fraser.Since the procedure, she has quit her former role with the housing department of a local authority and has started studying for a role in social work.She has also gone on to appear as a contestant on the television gameshow Countdown, which she used to regularly watch in hospital