Jeff Whitford is one of the longest living survivors of surgery on Earth
Jeff Whitford, 73, was one of the first to undergo life-changing surgery after being told his heart began to fail.
He is currently one of the longest living heart transplant patients not only in Northern Ireland but also in the world.
In 1978, a Lisburn man was diagnosed with a condition that prevented the heart from effectively pumping blood, known as dilated cardiomyopathy.
“When I was first diagnosed, I was 25 years old and there was no heart transplant around. So they gave me a pacemaker and they kept me up until 1986, and then By the time my heart had faded so badly,” he explained.
“The only option they had was porting when the program really started.”
Dr. John Geddes, a cardiologist at Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, introduced Jeff to Pupworth Hospital in Cambridge, in hopes of undergoing surgery after installing the pacemaker in 1980.
Recently passed away, Dr. Geddes is known for his pioneering work in helping to develop the world's first mobile coronary care unit, where he performed the first implant of a pacemaker.
“Dr. John Geddes traveled to Pupworth just before Christmas in 1985 and arranged for him to be evaluated.
“Professionally, John had been looking after me since 1980. When he put him in the pacemaker, it was very successful for me, it kept me going and kept me alive.”
Shortly after a family trip to Portrush with his wife and two daughters, Jeff received a call from Pupworth Check to see if he had the infection or the flu.
“I said, 'No, I was fine.' Then I was told there was an ambulance calling you an hour later – we have a heart.
“My wife went home from work. We got the kids out of school and our parents looked after them. We got a 4.30 shuttle at Heathrow and we had a blue light. It was moved to Pupworth.”
The life-changing surgery took about five hours, and once completed, Jeff was led to a quarantine unit for 5-6 days and into a house along the way, ensuring a smooth recovery.
“I woke up, felt the heart in my chest and after not having it for many years I thought I couldn't live with this strong beat in my chest, but it quickly settled down. Everything went according to the plan.”
Unfortunately, Jeff's body began to reject his mind and he was placed on steroids to help with recovery. The efficacy of the drug later made his hip worse.
Due to his younger age at the time, he didn't get a new hip until he was 55 years old.
Despite health fluctuations, Jeff has continued to make the most of his new lease of life.
He is currently a grandfather of five and travels through Europe and Northern Ireland with his wife Sheila.
“There were ups and downs, but not everything is sailing healthy. The first 15 years were great, but old age was creeping up. But I feel very good at the moment,” he said. I said.
“I've been to Spain, Italy, France and Germany, so we've traveled quite a lot. I love the North Coast. We've had a caravan in Portrush for 19 years. .”
John never forgot the man who gave him a heart and remained eternally grateful to his family for the second chance of life he was given.
He explained how lucky he was to find a donor that suits his blood type, which only makes up a small portion of the UK population.
“The mind was the perfect match for me. We were both AB positive. AB positive accounts for around 4% of the population,” he said.
“There are very few days when I don't think about donors. The donor family ultimately gave me permission. It is the family who gives me the ultimate sanctions for the donor organs used.
“I've been there for over 38 years. It's amazing. I still find it difficult to believe in myself. I'm grateful to Royal Papworth Hospital. The team is amazing. Royal Victoria I take care of me during my health checkups at Royal Pupworth twice a year.”
Since Jeff's project in 1986, this procedure has made great strides in the present day, with over 3,000 heart transplants taking place in the UK each year.
He advised future patients who were preparing to undergo surgery.
“Don't break the rules.
“Heart transplants are very successful now. In my time, they weren't that certain, but they've been much more refined in the last 38 years.”
