Chch man accepted for transplant

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 12

Chch man accepted for transplant

NZPA London A Christchurch real estate agent, Mr Roger Manson, has got “the best birthday present anyone could hope for” — news that he has been accepted for a heart and lung transplant at London’s Harefield Hospital. Mr Manson, who suffers from a rare medical condition which causes a lack of elasticity in the lungs, was told by a member of the hospital staff yesterday that he has been put on the waiting list for the surgery as soon as a suitable donor becomes available.

“It’s great news and ends the uncertainty,” said Mr Manson, who will celebrate his fortieth birthday next week.

Mr Manson and his wife Rae who are living in. a flat ten minutes drive from Harefield accept that they may have to wait several months before the transplant is carried out by Professor Madgi Yacoub.

“There are more than 300 people on the Harefield list for heart and heart and lung transplants so we have just got to be patient,” he said. The couple will soon have their two children, Harley, aged 12, and Chelsea, aged 10, to help them pass the time.

Mrs Manson has found places for them at a school and they are expected to arrive in England in the next few weeks.

Mr Manson’s trip to England was made possible by an appeal in the Christchurch area that raised more than $200,000. He said it would be nice to think that such operations could be done at home, but having seen the set-up at Harefield he is convinced it is some way off yet.

“I don’t think New Zealand has either the resources to buy the equipment involved or enough donors,” he said.