This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast is a transplant podcast sharing real heart transplant stories and lived experiences from the transplant community.In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah Sharma, who shares her unexpected journey to needing a heart transplant. Up until 2019, Hannah had experienced no serious health issues and was simply living her life. Everything changed after contracting Norovirus, which continued to worsen despite repeated GP visits and antibiotic prescriptions.As Hannah’s condition deteriorated, she was forced to move back in with her parents before eventually being taken to A&E and admitted to hospital. Shortly after admission, Hannah was transferred to ICU, where she remained until receiving a life-saving heart transplant.Hannah describes the shock of suddenly becoming critically ill, the fear her family faced, and how being placed on the heart transplant waiting list brought a sense of relief and hope for the future. She also talks about what it was like adjusting to life after a heart transplant.While in hospital, Hannah discovered blogs written by other transplant patients, which inspired her to start her own blog, Travels, Tea & Transplants. Through her blog, Hannah shares her experiences of heart transplantation, recovery, and navigating life after transplant.As a passionate traveller, we also discuss travel before transplant, travelling after a heart transplant, and the possibilities of living abroad in the future as a transplant recipient.This episode highlights how suddenly life can change, the importance of listening to your body, and how transplant patients can rebuild full, meaningful lives after surgery.🎧 Topics covered in this episode:• Heart transplant journey• Sudden illness and ICU experience• Life on the transplant waiting list• Recovery after heart transplant• Blogging after transplant• Travel pre and post transplant• Living abroad after transplant📝 Hannah’s blog:https://www.travels-tea-transplants.com/📸 Follow Hannah on Instagram:@travels_tea_transplant🔔 Subscribe for heart transplant stories, transplant awareness, and real conversations from the transplant community.🌍 Learn more about Transplant Strong:https://transplant-strong.com✍️ Read my transplant journey and blog:https://organtransplant.home.blog/aut... #HeartTransplant #TransplantPodcast #LifeAfterTransplant #TransplantStories #HealthPodcast

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast is a transplant podcast sharing real lung transplant stories and lived experiences from the transplant community.In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel McGrorry, who shares her incredible lung transplant journey and how a transplant gave her a completely new freedom in life.Rachel’s medical story began when she was just four years old, after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. At the time, doctors did not believe this would impact her organs. However, everything changed in 2011 when Rachel developed pneumonia. From that point onwards, she began experiencing ongoing lung problems, which led doctors to carry out further testing.Following a lung biopsy, it became clear that Rachel would eventually need a lung transplant in order to survive. Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, Rachel was fortunate not to spend long on the transplant waiting list before receiving the life-saving lungs she needed.Before transplant, Rachel relied on oxygen tanks and faced significant limitations in her day-to-day life. After transplant, everything changed. She was able to leave oxygen behind and regain independence, freedom, and a new lease on life.Rachel’s story highlights the long-term impact of chronic illness, the incredible work of transplant teams, and how organ transplantation can completely transform a person’s quality of life.🎧 Topics covered in this episode:• Lung transplant journey• Childhood Rheumatoid Arthritis• Pneumonia and lung failure• Life on oxygen• Lung transplant surgery• Life after lung transplant• Regaining independence after transplantThis is an inspiring lung transplant story and a reminder of the life-changing power of organ donation.🔔 Subscribe for more transplant stories, lung transplant awareness, and real conversations from the transplant community.🌍 Learn more about Transplant Strong:https://transplant-strong.com✍️ Read my transplant journey and blog:https://organtransplant.home.blog/aut...#LungTransplant #TransplantPodcast #LifeAfterTransplant #OrganDonation #TransplantStories

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast focuses on Wilson’s Disease awareness and long-term life after diagnosis.In this episode, I’m joined by Linda Schwebke, who is possibly one of the oldest surviving Wilson’s Disease patients. Linda was diagnosed in 1974, at a time when very little was known about Wilson’s Disease and very few patients had been identified.Linda’s diagnosis came after many medical tests failed to explain why she was becoming increasingly unwell. It wasn’t until an eye examination that an optometrist noticed Kayser-Fleischer rings — copper rings in the eyes — which ultimately led to her Wilson’s Disease diagnosis.At the time, Linda experienced severe tremors and neurological symptoms. These symptoms took several years to improve after starting medication, but over time the treatment allowed her health and quality of life to return.Now in her 70s, Linda continues to live an active, fulfilling life. She is able to travel, stay independent, and enjoy life to the full — showing just how effective early diagnosis, medication, and long-term management of Wilson’s Disease can be.Linda’s story is inspiring, hopeful, and incredibly important for anyone newly diagnosed with Wilson’s Disease or worried about what the future may hold.🎧 Topics covered in this episode:• Wilson’s Disease diagnosis• Living with Wilson’s Disease long-term• Kayser-Fleischer rings• Neurological symptoms and tremors• Medication and symptom improvement• Life expectancy with Wilson’s Disease• Aging well with a rare diseaseThis episode is a powerful reminder that with the right treatment, Wilson’s Disease patients can live long, active, and meaningful lives.🔔 Subscribe for more Wilson’s Disease stories, transplant conversations, and real-life patient experiences.🌍 Learn more about Transplant Strong:https://transplant-strong.com✍️ Read my transplant journey and blog:https://organtransplant.home.blog/aut...#WilsonsDisease #RareDiseaseAwareness #TransplantPodcast #LifeAfterDiagnosis #ChronicIllness

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast features double organ transplant recipient Aaron Jackson, who shares his powerful and honest transplant journey.Aaron was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare disease that affects the bile ducts. Despite this, he was able to live his life until 2017, when his health started to decline and he was forced to stop working.On November 10th, 2019, Aaron was admitted to ICU with just 5% liver function. He does not remember going into hospital, as he was sedated and later woke up on November 19th extremely confused — something many transplant patients can relate to.Aaron was sedated again over Thanksgiving and received his first liver transplant on December 9th, 2019. Unfortunately, that liver began to fail only days later, and Aaron was placed back into a medically induced coma.Doctors later confirmed that Aaron would need both a new liver and a kidney. On December 12th, 2019, he received a double liver and kidney transplant from the same donor — an incredibly rare and life-saving gift.During his recovery, Aaron experienced severe side effects from steroids, including hallucinations and temporary vision loss. As the medication was reduced, his eyesight returned — a reminder of how powerful transplant medications can be and how differently they affect each patient.In this episode we also discuss mental health before transplant, strategies for staying positive, and practical tips for managing medication. I share my own experience of keeping spare medication in my car and at friends’ houses for those moments we all forget.Despite everything Aaron has been through, his mindset is incredibly positive and inspiring.🎧 Topics covered in this episode:• Double organ transplant• Biliary Atresia• Liver and kidney transplant recovery• ICU and coma experience• Steroid side effects• Mental health before transplant• Medication management tips• Life after transplantYou can find Aaron on Instagram:📸 @a_jacks_vibe🔔 If you found this episode interesting, please like, comment, and subscribe for more transplant and rare disease stories.🌍 Learn more about Transplant Strong:https://transplant-strong.com✍️ Read my transplant journey and blog:https://organtransplant.home.blog/aut...#TransplantStrong #BiliaryAtresia #DoubleTransplant #LifeAfterTransplant #OrganDonation

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast features special guest Jillian Best, joining us from Canada to share her inspiring liver transplant journey and incredible sporting achievements.Not only has Jillian had a liver transplant herself, but her mother has also undergone two liver transplants in her lifetime — making organ transplantation a deeply personal part of her family’s story.Jillian has refused to let transplantation slow her down. After her transplant, she returned to swimming and has since competed in multiple World Transplant Games. At the most recent Games, Jillian won an astonishing 5 gold medals and set 5 world records — an achievement that truly highlights what is possible after transplant.In this episode, Jillian talks about her training routine, how COVID affected her preparation, and the role sport has played in her physical and mental recovery. Like many transplant patients, she found sport gave her focus, purpose, and goals to work towards as she moved forward with life.More recently, Jillian and a group of friends founded the Move For Life Foundation, a charity focused on raising awareness and funds for organ transplantation while supporting people currently on the transplant waiting list.Find Move For Life Foundation here:Facebook:   / move.for.life.foundation  Instagram:   / move.for.life.foundation  During our conversation, Jillian completely left me speechless when she revealed her next fundraising challenge.On August 3rd, 2021, Jillian attempted to swim across Lake Ontario — a distance of 52km (33 miles) — with an estimated swim time of around 18 hours. This challenge alone would be huge for anyone, but for a transplant recipient it is truly extraordinary and proves that life after transplant is not the end — it is just the beginning.I highly encourage you to follow Jillian and Move For Life Foundation to keep up with their incredible work.Jillian’s Instagram:📸   / jillian_best  🔔 If you found this episode interesting, please hit the like button, leave a comment, and subscribe for more transplant stories and awareness content.🌍 Learn more about Transplant Strong:https://transplant-strong.com✍️ Read my transplant journey and blog:https://organtransplant.home.blog/tag...#TransplantStrong #WorldTransplantGames #LifeAfterTransplant #OrganDonation #MoveForLife

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast features special guest Thomas Stokes, who shares his liver transplant journey and his experience competing in the Transplant Games.Thomas contracted hepatitis C, which caused significant liver damage and eventually led to the development of a cancerous tumour in his liver. In 2017, Thomas required a life-saving liver transplant.Before his transplant, Thomas was a keen runner and continued training throughout the transplant process. He makes an important point in this episode — the fitter you are before transplant, the better and faster your recovery can be afterwards. His mindset and commitment to fitness played a huge role in his recovery.After his transplant, Thomas was soon back on his feet and began training for the American Transplant Games, where he competed in a virtual triathlon. He later travelled to England to compete in the World Transplant Games, taking part in track and field events and making the most of his time by sightseeing around the UK.One of Thomas’ biggest concerns before transplant was what life would look like afterwards. Being able to travel internationally and compete in sporting events post-transplant shows that there is still a huge amount of life to be lived after a liver transplant.We also discuss the Transplant Games in more detail and the inspirational community behind them. The Games are open to anyone who has had a transplant and are a powerful way to celebrate the gift of life we have all been given.Another important topic we cover is writing to organ donors and donor families. As with many transplant recipients, Thomas shares his personal thoughts and feelings on this, highlighting how different everyone’s journey can be.Thank you for watching. If you would like to join me on an episode of Danny Chats or have any questions, please feel free to reach out.🔔 Please like, comment, and subscribe for more transplant stories and awareness content.📘 Find me here:Facebook:   / danny.hiles  Instagram:   / danny_hiles86  ✍️ Read my blog about living with Wilson’s Disease and life after transplant:https://organtransplant.home.blog/aut...#TransplantStrong #LiverTransplant #WorldTransplantGames #LifeAfterTransplant #OrganDonation

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast features special guest Nick Stonehouse, who shares his liver transplant journey and his involvement in the UK and World Transplant Games.Nick’s liver failure came on extremely fast and unexpectedly during an already very difficult time for him and his family. Thankfully, Nick received a life-saving liver transplant in time and is now able to share his powerful story.During this chat, we talk about writing to donor families and Nick explains how he went on to meet his donor’s family at a Transplant Games event. As you can imagine, this was an incredibly emotional experience for everyone involved and is something many transplant recipients wonder about.We also go into detail about how the Transplant Games work in the UK and what inspired Nick to get involved. Nick has competed in the UK Transplant Games on three occasions, taking part in several events and winning multiple medals — including three Gold medals in the discus competition.These incredible achievements earned Nick a place on the UK Transplant Team, allowing him to compete at the World Transplant Games. The most recent Games were held in Newcastle (UK), where Nick went on to win a Bronze medal. Competing for your country after a transplant is a huge honour and an amazing achievement.We also discuss coping with Covid and lockdown as a transplant patient. Nick shares some great advice around personal risk, mental health, and doing what feels right for you as an individual.This episode really inspired me to get more involved with the Transplant Games, and I hope it inspires others too. As Nick explains, having a focus like the Games — and the training that goes with it — can really help with the emotional ups and downs that come with transplant life.You can find Nick on Instagram:📸 Instagram: @tscontinentalThank you for watching. If you would like to join me on an episode of the podcast or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.🔔 Please like, comment, and subscribe for more transplant stories and awareness content.📘 Find me here:Facebook:   / danny.hiles  Instagram:   / danny_hiles86  ✍️ Read my blog about living with Wilson’s Disease and life after transplant:https://organtransplant.home.blog/#TransplantStrong #LiverTransplant #TransplantGames #LifeAfterTransplant #OrganDonation

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast features special guest Tatiana Narvaez, who shares her powerful liver transplant journey and her incredible achievements competing in the Transplant Olympics.In this episode, Tatiana explains how she spent two years undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with what doctors believed was a cancerous tumour. After extensive treatment, doctors made the discovery that the tumour was not cancerous after all.Although the diagnosis was a shock, Tatiana describes this as a huge relief, as it meant she was now eligible for a liver transplant. Thankfully, she did not have to wait long before receiving her life-saving transplant.Following her transplant, Tatiana discovered a new passion for sport and competition. This led her to compete in the Transplant Olympics and the Latin American Transplant Games, where she took on some of the toughest sporting challenges available to transplant athletes.Tatiana is a fantastic example of the level of physical fitness that can be achieved after transplant. She competes in the triathlon — an event that combines swimming, cycling, and running — which requires not only physical strength but incredible mental resilience.Mental strength is something many transplant patients understand deeply. There are moments during illness and recovery where you want to give up, but you keep going, dig deep, and find the strength to push forward.Tatiana trains extremely hard and her dedication paid off when she won a Silver medal at the World Transplant Olympics and a Gold medal at the Latin American Transplant Games — truly incredible achievements.Alongside her sporting success, Tatiana uses her platform to raise awareness around organ donation in Colombia, where there are currently very few registered organ donors.This was a truly inspiring chat, and it may even encourage others — including myself — to get involved in the Transplant Games, whether returning to sport or trying something new for the first time.You can find Tatiana on Instagram:📸 Instagram: @TatianaThank you for watching. If you would like to join me on an episode of the podcast or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.🔔 Please like, comment, and subscribe for more transplant stories and awareness content.📘 Find me here:Facebook:   / danny.hiles  Instagram:   / danny_hiles86  ✍️ Read my blog about living with Wilson’s Disease and life after transplant:https://organtransplant.home.blog/#TransplantStrong #LiverTransplant #TransplantOlympics #LifeAfterTransplant #OrganDonation

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast features special guest Amy Honeycutt, who shares her unique and inspiring journey from liver transplant patient to transplant coordinator.Amy required a liver transplant at just 26 years old after suffering a severe reaction to medication, which caused her liver to fail suddenly. Due to the urgency of her condition, Amy was placed on the transplant list and thankfully received the life-saving liver transplant she needed.Amy recovered well from her transplant, and now — over 10 years later — she works as a transplant coordinator in America, helping guide patients through the very same process she once experienced herself.In this episode, Amy and I discuss the liver transplant process from a transplant coordinator’s point of view. We talk through what patients can expect during the transplant evaluation stage, including the different tests and assessments that may be required before being listed.Amy also explains how transplant technology is constantly evolving. She tells me about an incredible liver perfusion pump that keeps donor livers fresh and can even improve their condition. This technology means some donor livers that would previously have been discarded can now be used — increasing the number of successful transplants and saving more lives.One of Amy’s favourite parts of her role is making the phone call to tell someone they have a matching liver available — a moment filled with hope, emotion, and excitement for patients and families.We also discuss why some patients are occasionally called in for transplant surgery but then sent home. Although extremely difficult emotionally, Amy explains how this decision is always made to minimise risk and ensure the best possible outcome for both the patient and the donor organ. Having been on the waiting list myself, I know how emotionally challenging this experience can be.Amy highlights how important it is for patients awaiting transplant to follow medical advice closely, especially when it comes to alcohol and drug use, as this can directly affect transplant eligibility.Finally, we talk about the emotional side of receiving an organ — how it is an incredibly special gift, but also a deeply emotional and complex experience for many transplant recipients.You can find Amy on Instagram:📸 Instagram: @lemons.and.honey.blogThank you for watching. If you would like to join me on an episode of the podcast or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.🔔 Please like, comment, and subscribe for more transplant stories and transplant awareness content.📘 Find me here:Facebook:   / danny.hiles  Instagram:   / danny_hiles86  ✍️ Read my blog about living with Wilson’s Disease and life after transplant:https://organtransplant.home.blog/

#TransplantStrong #LiverTransplant #OrganDonation #LifeAfterTransplant #TransplantStories

This episode of The Transplant Strong Podcast features special guest Rhonda Rowland, who shares her journey of living with Wilson’s Disease and her incredible work advocating for the Wilson’s Disease community.Rhonda talks openly about her own experience of being diagnosed with Wilson’s Disease and the medication she takes to control copper levels in her body. She explains how ongoing treatment has allowed her to manage the condition and live a full life.Rhonda is a board member of the Wilson’s Disease Association in America, and in this episode we discuss the important work the organisation does to support patients, families, and medical research worldwide.One of the most fascinating parts of this conversation is Rhonda’s work on documenting the history of Wilson’s Disease. Rhonda travelled to the UK to speak with Dr John Walsh — the doctor who developed the first effective medication for Wilson’s Disease — as well as Dr Wilson’s son and the very first patient ever treated with penicillamine.Rhonda brought these conversations together in a powerful documentary titled *The Story of Wilson’s Disease*, which offers a rare and insightful look into the history of treatment and the people who helped change lives forever.🎬 Watch the documentary here:   • The Story of Wilson Disease  We also discuss exciting developments in Wilson’s Disease treatment, including new medications and the future possibility of gene therapy — raising hope that one day Wilson’s Disease could be cured altogether.This episode is packed with education, history, and hope, and is especially valuable for anyone living with Wilson’s Disease, supporting someone with the condition, or wanting to learn more about rare liver diseases.You can find Rhonda on Instagram:📸 Instagram: @rhondarowlandr2Thank you for watching. If you would like to join me on an episode of the podcast or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.🔔 Please like, comment, and subscribe for more transplant stories, rare disease awareness, and real patient experiences.🌍 Learn more about Transplant Strong:https://transplant-strong.com✍️ Read my blog about living with Wilson’s Disease and life after transplant:https://organtransplant.home.blog/📘 Find me here:Facebook:   / danny.hiles  Instagram:   / danny_hiles86  #WilsonsDisease #RareDiseaseAwareness #TransplantStrong #LiverDisease #OrganDonation