The Margaret Pratt Story

In 1993 I was diagnosed, after a long and difficult series of tests and explorations, with a condition called primary pulmonary hypertension a rare condition affecting the blood vessels of the lungs whereby they become very narrow restricting blood flow to the heart.  Eventually this condition leads to heart failure and ultimately death. It has no known cause and mainly affects women in their 20's and 30's.

In 1993 the only treatment for PPH - not cure - was a double lung transplant.

I was a fit, healthy 33 year old. I had a bright and exciting future and this all came crashing down around me as I sat in the doctor's office and he told me of my poor prognosis and my need for a double lung transplant.

At the young age of 33 I was placed on the waiting list at the Alfred Hospital in Melborne for a double lung transplant.

My health deteriorated and I went from an independent young woman to being in a wheelchair and needing 24 hour round the clock care. I had to remain focused and determined to stay alive to reach transplantation.  Unfortunately 1 in 5 people waiting for a transplant die before organs become available.

I waited 7 months before donor lungs became available.

After a 10 hour operation, 1 week in a coma and 3 more weeks in hospital recovering and learning to walk again I left ready to restart life with the perseverance and determination that this challenge was not going to overcome me.

As I got on with my life I began to reflect on the need to do something to support the Alfred Hospital.

Of course the issue of organ rejection was on my mind.  Chronic lung rejection is the most serious problem facing all lung transplant recipients and is the largest cause of death.

In 2001 I was diagnosed with Chronic Lung Rejection. By December of that year there was nothing more that could be done for me. The fear that I faced at that time was overwhelming. As I lay dying, a decision was made by the medical team to put me on the list for a second transplant. This decision was not taken lightly and the ethical and moral as well as medical implications were discussed at great length.

In January 2002 donor lungs became available and I became the 1st successful adult in Australia to undergo 2 double lung transplants.

In January 2006 I once again became seriously ill with chronic lung rejection and within months my lungs failed to the point where  i was near death, in a wheelchair and on oxygen 24 hours a day. My only hope of survival was a 3rd lung transplant and in August I became the only person in Australia to undergo 3 double lung transplants.