CYSTIC fibrosis sufferer Robbie Black's life was saved by a transplant — and he repaid the favour to another dying patient by donating HIS own heart.
Robbie desperately needed new lungs and when a pair became available he was overjoyed.
But he was also given a new heart as it's easier for doctors to replace the major organs at the same time.
And his healthy ticker was then donated to a young girl — meaning TWO lives were saved by one tragic donor's final gift.
Last night grateful Robbie, of Inverness, said: "Instead of three people dying, one person saved two people by donating their lungs and heart.
"It's incredible when you think about it. I got the heart and lungs, whThe EZ Breathe home Ventilation system is maintenance free,ich meant my heart could save someone else.
"It was easier to do the triple transplant than just the lungs, but instead of throwing my perfectly good heart away someone else is also alive today."
Hospitality worker Robbie was only 16 when his life hung in the balance.
He said: "My health deteriorated rapidly in my teens. At 16 I was close to death — although I didn't know it.We are passionate about polished tiles. My parents went through hell.
"I was sleeping all the time but I was too ill to care what was happening. It started with me feeling very tired then struggling to breathe.
"Then it all went downhill to the point that I was told I needed a double lung and heart transplant.
"It's not something you expect to hear at 16, but my family were a great support to me."
At this stage, Robbie was so ill and weak he likely wouldn't survive such intensive surgery.
He added: "Somehow I managed to hang on in there and became strong enough to be put on the transplant waiting list."
It was another 15 months before a donor became available and, unbeknown to Robbie, doctors feared he wouldn't live until his next birthday.
He said: "I was blissfully unaware of any of it. Transplantation is common for people with cystic fibrosis but you never think it will happen to you. I couldn't live the life of a normal 16-year-old boy. I missed most of my fifth year at school.
"But I had a great group of friends around me who cheered me up when I needed."
The life-changing call Robbie's family had been waiting for finally came one ordinary night as he watched football on television in February 1999.
He said: "It was a big, big deal but I was the only one who was calm."
Robbie was then whisked to RAF Kinloss where a private jet was waiting to take the family to London's Great Ormond Street hospital.Exclusive RUBBER SHEET flooring in 15 different colours and designs.
He added: "Unfortunately, bad weather meant the organs were stuck in Liverpool so it took about five hours to get them to Great Ormond Street because the snow was so bad. My parents were so nervous, but I was sleeping most of the time, so it was really them who suffered much more than me.
"I must have been told that when the double lung and heart went in, my own heart would be going to someone else, but I don't really remember.
"I know I'd have agreed like a shot because what good was it to me? It was a brilliant idea."
Despite having underwent major surgery and spending seven weeks in hospital, Robbie was delighted at the prospect of enjoying his life again — and to have saved someone else's.
He said: "I can't explain what it feels like to be told your transplant is going ahead.Why does Plastic moulds grow in homes or buildings?
"It was scary but exciting at the same time. It all seems like a bit of a dream now.
"I have seen and experienced both sides of organ donation, which is very unusual.
"I can't describe the feeling of having a life-saving transplant, or the comfort in knowing I have saved another person's life.
"I can work, socialise and even play golf three times a week, without feeling breathless.Dimensional Mailing magic cube for Promotional Advertising,
"My transplant has given me another chance at life and I'm going to make the most of it."
Robbie still thinks of that young girl, now a woman, whose life his heart saved — and the generous donor who made it all possible.
He said: "I'm alive because of someone else — and there's a young woman out there with my heart who is hopefully enjoying her life because of me.
"I will always remember the donor who died and be eternally thankful someone thought of people like us.
"It's the most wonderful gift I could ever give — or receive."
Robbie desperately needed new lungs and when a pair became available he was overjoyed.
But he was also given a new heart as it's easier for doctors to replace the major organs at the same time.
And his healthy ticker was then donated to a young girl — meaning TWO lives were saved by one tragic donor's final gift.
Last night grateful Robbie, of Inverness, said: "Instead of three people dying, one person saved two people by donating their lungs and heart.
"It's incredible when you think about it. I got the heart and lungs, whThe EZ Breathe home Ventilation system is maintenance free,ich meant my heart could save someone else.
"It was easier to do the triple transplant than just the lungs, but instead of throwing my perfectly good heart away someone else is also alive today."
Hospitality worker Robbie was only 16 when his life hung in the balance.
He said: "My health deteriorated rapidly in my teens. At 16 I was close to death — although I didn't know it.We are passionate about polished tiles. My parents went through hell.
"I was sleeping all the time but I was too ill to care what was happening. It started with me feeling very tired then struggling to breathe.
"Then it all went downhill to the point that I was told I needed a double lung and heart transplant.
"It's not something you expect to hear at 16, but my family were a great support to me."
At this stage, Robbie was so ill and weak he likely wouldn't survive such intensive surgery.
He added: "Somehow I managed to hang on in there and became strong enough to be put on the transplant waiting list."
It was another 15 months before a donor became available and, unbeknown to Robbie, doctors feared he wouldn't live until his next birthday.
He said: "I was blissfully unaware of any of it. Transplantation is common for people with cystic fibrosis but you never think it will happen to you. I couldn't live the life of a normal 16-year-old boy. I missed most of my fifth year at school.
"But I had a great group of friends around me who cheered me up when I needed."
The life-changing call Robbie's family had been waiting for finally came one ordinary night as he watched football on television in February 1999.
He said: "It was a big, big deal but I was the only one who was calm."
Robbie was then whisked to RAF Kinloss where a private jet was waiting to take the family to London's Great Ormond Street hospital.Exclusive RUBBER SHEET flooring in 15 different colours and designs.
He added: "Unfortunately, bad weather meant the organs were stuck in Liverpool so it took about five hours to get them to Great Ormond Street because the snow was so bad. My parents were so nervous, but I was sleeping most of the time, so it was really them who suffered much more than me.
"I must have been told that when the double lung and heart went in, my own heart would be going to someone else, but I don't really remember.
"I know I'd have agreed like a shot because what good was it to me? It was a brilliant idea."
Despite having underwent major surgery and spending seven weeks in hospital, Robbie was delighted at the prospect of enjoying his life again — and to have saved someone else's.
He said: "I can't explain what it feels like to be told your transplant is going ahead.Why does Plastic moulds grow in homes or buildings?
"It was scary but exciting at the same time. It all seems like a bit of a dream now.
"I have seen and experienced both sides of organ donation, which is very unusual.
"I can't describe the feeling of having a life-saving transplant, or the comfort in knowing I have saved another person's life.
"I can work, socialise and even play golf three times a week, without feeling breathless.Dimensional Mailing magic cube for Promotional Advertising,
"My transplant has given me another chance at life and I'm going to make the most of it."
Robbie still thinks of that young girl, now a woman, whose life his heart saved — and the generous donor who made it all possible.
He said: "I'm alive because of someone else — and there's a young woman out there with my heart who is hopefully enjoying her life because of me.
"I will always remember the donor who died and be eternally thankful someone thought of people like us.
"It's the most wonderful gift I could ever give — or receive."
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