A great Christmas present.
Irish Cystic Fibrosis campaigner Orla Tinsley has revealed that her double lung transplant operation was a success.
Posting a message to her Twitter on St Stephen’s day, Tinsley tweeted to say, “I now have shiny new lugs and spent yesterday, with my family, thinking of my donor and their family. I am forever grateful for their forward thinking and generosity. #recycleyourself #beatcf”
1. Thank you, everyone, for all your love and support. I now have shiny new lungs and spent yesterday, with my family, thinking of my donor and their family I am forever grateful for their forward thinking and generosity. #recycleyourself #beatcf
— Orla Tinsley (@orlatinsley) December 26, 2017
Tinsley, a Kildare native living in New York has been in recovery from the transplant operation since 21 December.
She had previously received six calls about a potential double lung transplant, but none of the potential donors were a suitable match. Today, however, she confirmed that the seventh had in fact worked out.
This morning we got a call but I wanted to wait. Well, here it is, Lucky Number7. I’m not afraid..Please send love, prayers and best wishes. Double lung transplant is a go! Love love love #BEATCF
— Orla Tinsley (@orlatinsley) December 21, 2017
Tinsley has been actively campaigning for people with Cystic Fibrosis and an improvement in their treatment for over a decade. She has also written about her own experience with the condition in the Irish Times since 2005.
Her activism has helped draw attention to the issue, which affects 1,200 people nationwide and played a factor in the opening of a dedicated Cystic Fibrosis unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin in 2012.
