The first patient to undergo the first ever heart and liver transplant in Ireland has thanked his organ donor for saving his life.
Martin Malinowski, who lives in Monaghan, underwent the complex surgery at the Mater Hospital last year and is now making great strides in his recovery.
The double transplant involved two surgical transplant teams - one from the Mater Hospital’s National Heart and Lung Unit and the other from St Vincent’s Hospital’s National Liver Transplant Unit.
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Martin was just 27-years-old when he found himself gasping for air.
He had a viral infection which caused liver cirrhosis, his heart started failing and he developed bradycardia - which means that his heart was beating very slowly.
He told Dublin Live: “The fatigue was one of the symptoms I had, I’d shortness of breath and my weight was increasing dramatically. I couldn’t walk because of my breath.
“My weight and a dry cough are what made me go to the GP. I didn’t have an appetite and then I was admitted to the hospital.
“I never Googled my symptoms, I don’t trust Google.. It’s better to listen to the doctors.
“When I got the phone call to get the surgery it was a mix of feelings. I was scared but happy at the same time."
Martin recalls briefly waking up after the surgery, before settling back into bed when his mother told him everything went great.
He said: “I’m very lucky, the doctors are amazing in Ireland.
"There were so many people involved in my transplant.
“When I woke up from the surgery I’d blurry vision. I just saw two characters standing beside the bed.
“I heard my mam say everything went well and i spoke with the doctors for a few minutes before going back to sleep because I was so tired.”
And a year on, Martin says the risky surgery can only be deemed a "big success".
"I'm very happy that it happened," he beamed.
"It was a big success. I’m happy that someone decided to donate their organs, I'm very grateful to them and their family.
“Their decision saved my life, that’s a very important message. It shows that something like this could happen to anyone.
“I’m very thankful and organ donation saves lives. This is a great example.”
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