Lung transplant recipient Lisa Bower is feeling on top of the world just 18 months after her life-saving transplant, and our Dr Sanjay Kumar has been pivotal in the whole process.

Lisa, aged 54 from Cowlersley, Huddersfield, met Sanjay when he was working on the Respiratory Ward at Calderdale Royal Hospital in 2019, after she'd been admitted with flu.

Lisa's tests showed she had COPD with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency which made her prone to have severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) at such a young age. Despite that, Sanjay could tell that Lisa was determined to do all she could to improve her health, and so the work to look at all the clinical possibilities began.

Lisa said: “Dr Kumar (Sanjay) discussed the options with me, initially planning to try and cut away the damaged tissue so that he could look at rebuilding my lung. When the CT the scan in March 2020 showed that procedure wasn’t an option, we were both so very disappointed, but it didn’t stop him looking at what other options there were to help me going forwards.

“He asked for my thoughts about having a lung transplant. Having lived with COPD, and the debilitating side effects for around 15 years, I knew it was the only way I was going to be able to live anywhere near a normal life, something I’d not had for such a long time.

“He showed just how much he cared for me and my condition, and I was determined to do everything I could to have my transplant. Sanjay gave me the hope I needed to keep going.

“The hardest part was staying alive and being well enough to have the surgery. By the time I had my transplant at the Jim Quick Ward at Wythenshawe Hospital, I was on Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) – a treatment that helps with breathing by delivering air pressure through a mask connected to a machine, for almost 21 hours a day. The team there were absolutely amazing, I can’t thank them enough. I don’t think I’d have been here last Christmas without my transplant and their support.

“There’s no two ways about it. Having a transplant is a lifelong commitment and every day I say a silent thank you to my donor’s family for the precious gift of organ donation.”

Lisa met up with Sanjay last week for the first time since her transplant to thank him for all his support.

A smiling Lisa told him: “You believed in me when I was at my lowest and I was so lucky you were my doctor that day at Calderdale. I must admit I do smile a lot these days. I put it down to huge dose of vitamin G (gratitude)!

Sanjay said: “From the moment I met Lisa she had such a positive mindset, even when she was obviously so poorly. As soon as we met I felt sure we could work together to try and make a difference for her.

“Lisa is still the only patient I’ve referred for a lung transplant in my nine years at CHFT. But what a shining example she has been for the whole process.

"Anyone with COPD, as Lisa had, needs to be hopeful, and work closely with their specialist team. They should also stop smoking and work towards a strong physical and mental health. Perseverance keeps the door open for life-changing interventions like lung transplants.

"My message to our clinicians is to think about transplant options as early as possible. Engaging with patients sympathetically and supportively, and being tenacious throughout the process is critical for the process to be successful."