Ayr mum waiting by the phone for life-saving double lung transplant after rare diagnosis

A mum living with a rare disease has said she is “waiting by the phone” for the news a life-saving lung donor has been found.

Four years ago, Wendy McKenna started to notice she was becoming breathless whilst doing mundane tasks such as walking and while working in a pharmacy.

After visiting her doctor, concerns were raised as the 49-year-old became breathless getting onto the examination bed.

She was referred to Crosshouse Hospital and underwent an echocardiogram, where medical teams noted that Wendy’s heart was swollen on the right side.

A nurse recognised the symptoms and Wendy was sent to the Scottish Pulmonary Vascular Unit in Glasgow.

In August 2021 she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, which is a rare, progressive, and potentially fatal disease that affects the pulmonary arteries.

Wendy’s condition has continued to deteriorate, having a huge impact on her day-to-day life.

She told STV News: “I was playing tennis when I could, now I’m unable to do that.

Wendy McKenna was diagnosed with the rare condition in 2021. Wendy McKenna

“I struggle to walk outside. It does get me down. It has been very hard and tough because I’ve been through a lot of stages.

“I’m unable to do anything really. Currently I’m on long-term oxygen, anytime I go anywhere I have to take a cannister with me.”

The 49-year-old has been placed on the fast track urgent list for a double lung transplant at the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant unit in Newcastle.

The unit is the UK’s first centre dedicated solely to life-saving transplants. Without a successful operation, Wendy’s condition will continue to worsen.

She told STV News: “This is critical.

“Without the transplant I’ll pass away. When I was first diagnosed I was given five years to live and that was three years ago.

“If I don’t get the transplant my condition is going to keep deteriorating. We are waiting for a specific size of lung donation and the right blood type.

“So I am waiting by the phone with my bag packed. Once we get the call we’ll be blue-lighted to Newcastle.”

A fundraiser has been set up to help with the costs of staying in Newcastle for three months following the first leg of the operation.

Any money left over will be donated to the Freeman Heart and Lung Unit. So far, more than £4,000 has been raised, which has left Wendy stunned.

She said: “I really am so grateful for everybody’s donations no matter how big or small.

“It’s just life-changing and I’m astonished.”

To find out more about the fundraiser click here.