Heart patient home
PA Auckland Kelvin McCarthy, aged 17, New Zealand’s youngest heart transplant patient, says he is eager to return to the rugby field only six weeks after surgery. Mr McCarthy returned yesterday to New Zealand from London, where he had transplant surgery, and headed for a family Christmas at his home near Oamaru.
Earlier this year a viral infection after a bout of influenza damaged’ his heart. He had been working as a sandblaster and was flanker in an under 18 rugby team.
“I didn’t think I was going to get it (the new heart) in time. Then we thought we wouldn’t make it home for Christmas,” Mr McCarthy said.
He hoped to be able to return to work and to rugby soon. His mother, Mrs June McCarthy, who accompanied him to Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, for the surgery, said, “It is a great thing to be given life again. We were beginning to wonder if we would make it home for Christmas. The main thing is Kelvin getting on his feet.” She said Christmas would be the usual family gathering with Kelvin among his five brothers and sisters at home.
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Press, 19 December 1985, Page 1
Word Count
192Heart patient home Press, 19 December 1985, Page 1
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