A local dad has been given a second chance at life for Christmas after he received an urgent liver transplant earlier this year.
First diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) six years ago, Gareth Weeks, 38, had become so ill that his skin had turned a deep shade of yellow, with a transplant his only chance of survival.
Becoming a new dad to now seven-year-old daughter Zara in 2015, Gareth had believed his exhaustion was due to the new arrival. However, when his symptoms worsened, the dad-of-one was told he had PSC, which carries a life expectancy of 10-12 years.
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Speaking about the diagnosis, Gareth, from Dunfermline, said: “I had begun to feel exhausted all the time, but my daughter was only a few months old at the time, so I assumed it was simply part of being a new dad.
“A few months later, I was diagnosed with PSC. I began reading up about my condition before I had even left the hospital car park. I read that there was no cure, a transplant was required, and my life expectancy would be between 10 and 12 years. It was a total shock.”
Following several turbulent years of drug trials and being monitored closely by clinicians, Gareth was told that he would be added to the transplant list.
His liver function had begun to deteriorate so severely that his skin had become even more yellow from severe jaundice.
After seven months of anxiously waiting for a call with a hospital bag waiting at the door, Gareth received “the call” in May this year to tell him that a match had been found, and travelled to Edinburgh for his transplant.
Now, six months on from the operation, Gareth is preparing for his family's best Christmas yet, that he will be able to spend with Zara and his wife, Vicki.
He added: “I’m really excited about spending Christmas with my family as we’ve not really been able to enjoy it fully with my illness hanging over us. This year we’ll be enjoying a Christmas lunch at home before heading off to Paris with my brother, sister-in-law and nephews, who arrive from Cape Town on boxing day.
“I have a long road ahead, but I’m actually excited about my future again. I’ve entered the Edinburgh half marathon next May and we’ve also booked our first family holiday abroad in years – to Disneyland!
“In six months, I’ve gone from sleeping everyday to exercising. I’ve gone from missing out to being there. I’ve gone from feeling hopeless to hopeful.
“All of this would not have been possible without the generosity of my donor and their family. I don’t yet have the words to fully describe how I feel other than my donor is a true hero.
“I am so grateful to all of the team at the RIE for giving me and my family this second chance, they are truly world-class.”
Gareth is one of hundreds of patients whose lives have been transformed by the teams at the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
A total of 1,758 patients have received a lifesaving transplant since the unit first opened its doors in 1992 to help give patients a second chance of life.
John Casey, Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Director for Transplant, NHS Lothian, said: “Gareth’s story is incredibly inspiring, and I commend him for raising awareness of organ donation. We wish him and his family all the very best.
“While the sheer number of transplants is remarkable, the transplant unit is about people helping people and I am very proud of all the staff who have worked so hard in the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit over the last 30 years. If you participate in any part of transplantation, you know that each transplant takes a full team including doctors, nurses, allied professionals, donor services and family members working together."
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