Britain’s youngest DOUBLE lung transplant patient: 5-month-old is even well enough to be a bridesmaid at her parents’ wedding

October 11, 2016

Imogen Bolton was born suffering from Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia
It meant her lungs had not formed properly and only hope was a transplant
Weighed just 10lbs when she had operation at Great Ormond Street
Last month she was bridesmaid at parents’ Hayley and Jason’s wedding

Kate Pickles For Mailonline

Published:
08:32 EST, 11 October 2016

|
Updated:
09:01 EST, 11 October 2016

e-mail

View
comments

Meet Imogen Bolton – Britain’s youngest double lung transplant recipient.

She received her new lungs when she was just five months old after she was diagnosed with the rare illness Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia (ACD).

It meant her lungs had not properly formed.

Weighing less than 10lbs, she underwent a seven-hour operation earlier this year at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Experts believe she may be the youngest child in Europe to have ever had the surgery.

Imogen Bolton was just five months old when she received her new lungs at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Imogen appeared healthy at birth but developed a respiratory infection when she was a few weeks old.

She was admitted to hospital near her home in Brighton several times with breathing problems.

At one point her condition deteriorated rapidly and she needed urgent treatment to help her breathe.

Incredible moment a six-day-old baby has life-saving open…

Mother-of-two is fighting for her life after contracting…

Teenager who thought she had pulled a muscle playing sports…

Mother-of-two, 30, loses part of her cervix to cancer…

She was then transferred to the Evelina Hospital in London where a series of tests and scans diagnosed ACD, an extremely rare condition with only a few known cases worldwide.

Doctors put Imogen on the transplant waiting list, despite very low odds that a suitable donor would be found.

But just a week later, the family heard news of a match.

Imogen’s mother, Hayley, 30, said: ‘It all happened so suddenly. We knew most children needing organ transplants spend weeks and months waiting, and some never get the call.

‘After the complete emotional rollercoaster we had all been through, it was a huge relief to see things heading in the right direction.

In September Hayley and Jason got married and Imogen was able to go to the ceremony in her bridesmaid’s dress following the surgery

Baby Imogen received her new lungs when she was just five months old after she was diagnosed with the rare illness Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia

‘The difference was amazing, and a few weeks after the transplant Imogen was back to her usual chirpy self with a smile for everyone and was back on solid food as we tried to get her weight back on.’

After several months in hospital, Imogen has now been discharged and is back home.

She returns to GOSH for regular clinic check-ups.

Dr Helen Spencer, respiratory paediatrician and clinical lead for Great Ormond Street Hospital’s lung transplant service, said: ‘Imogen was born with a very rare lung condition that would have proved fatal without urgent lung transplant surgery.

‘As she was so small the surgery was particularly complex but she has bounced back and it’s fantastic to see her doing so well.

‘The reality is that Imogen wouldn’t be here today if the donor family hadn’t made the decision to donate and we are all hugely thankful to them.

‘Sadly, last year 15 children across the UK died while waiting on the list for a suitable donor organ, so it’s vital that everyone considers signing up to the register.

‘It really doesn’t take long to sign up, so we are urging people of all ages to do this as soon as possible, and to discuss donation decisions as a family.’