A Falkirk woman has set a new Guinness World Record after undergoing pioneering heart surgery almost 50 years ago - says she feels "very lucky".
Anne Bell, 77, from Banknock, is the longest surviving person to receive a single artificial heart valve replacement.
The operation was carried out on December 4, 1972, at the former Meanskirk Hospital in Glasgow, when Anne was just 28-years-old, with two young kids.
Anne's husband, Jim Bell, made daily four-hour round trips involving two buses to travel to the hospital.
Following her operation, Anne’s care transferred to the former Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary and then Forth Valley Royal Hospital where she undergoes annual checks.
Anne's daughter Carol Bell, said: "We were watching a TV programme about the 50th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, and it got us thinking about how it must be nearly as long since mum had her heart valve replacement surgery and whether this was unusual.
"My brother always got the Guinness Book of World Records as a Christmas present and we thought it would be interesting to see what the current record was for this type of surgery.
"We started researching it around 6 months ago and found that the previous record was 47 years after surgery.
"However, it is quite a long process to get a new record confirmed as they require a lot of detailed information and evidence to support it."
Following the family’s research, supported by clinical information and testimonies, the new record of 49 years and 60 days was finally confirmed on February 2nd this year.
Anne, who was discharged from hospital just 19 days after the operation, says she feels very lucky to have survived and is very grateful to all the medical and nursing staff involved in her care over the past five decades.
She explained: "I was one of three people in hospital at that time who underwent this operation and out of the three I am only one who survived as sadly one patient died a few weeks after surgery and the other died a year later.
"I feel incredibly lucky to have lived for such a long time after this operation as it’s given me the opportunity to see both my children grow up and spend time with my husband and the rest of our friends and family.
"This new world record is testament to the outstanding care and treatment I have received, not only from the medical team who carried out the operation.
"But also the local doctors and nurses in NHS Forth Valley who carry out regular health checks to make sure the replacement heart valve continues to do its job."
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