Double lung transplant patient from Stoneleigh wins gold at British Transplant Games
5:30am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter
Double lung transplant patient Lisa Muscutt wins gold
A woman who had a double lung transplant is celebrating after winning four medals in the British Transplant Games.
Sutton Police witness care officer, Lisa Muscutt, 39, from Stoneleigh, won four medals at the annual games for transplant patients in Medway, Kent, fom August 23-26.
Miss Muscutt was born with cystic fibrosis which saw her health deteriorate so much that when the chance for a transport came along doctors were not sure she would make it.
Her weight fell to just 5.5 stone and her lung capacity had dropped to just 15 per cent.
However after an eight and a half hour operation at Harefield Hospital in Middlesex, during which the surgeons nearly gave up, she had both her lungs replaced.
Thanks to their perseverance Miss Muscutt’s life has been transformed from using a wheelchair and struggling to breathe to playing soft ball and badminton.
She said: "It just feels like you were drowning all the time.
"Before - I couldn’t leave my house unless I knew I had enough oxygen with me.
"When you first come round you think you will be fine – and it is really not like that.
"I had to learn to walk and breathe properly but it was all worth it in the end.
"It is a very strange feeling just wondering if you are still here or not.
"Through having the transplant I have met so many amazing people.
"I do feel like a different person – it seems like a different life.
"My donor gave her lungs so I could live. Without that gift, I would not be here."
During the Transplant Games, Miss Muscutt won gold for ten-pin bowling, silver in both badminton doubles and ball throw and a bronze in soft ball.
She added: "It’s a wonderful experience to take part in the Transplant Games and to be cheered on by large, supportive crowds - including people that have had transplant surgery, their families and the families of our donors."
