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A SCHOOLGIRL is believed to have become the first heart transplant patient in the United Kingdom to have her donor organ removed and her own heart brought back to life, it emerged today.

 

Hannah Clark, 12, of Mountain Ash, South Wales, had the pioneering operation carried out on 20 February after her body rejected her "piggy-back" heart.

 

The complicated procedure has gained its nickname because the original heart is left in place with the new one surgically attached to it.

 

The operation was carried out by surgeons advised by the heart specialist Sir Magdi Yacoub, who came out of retirement at the request of Hannah's parents, Paul and Elizabeth Clark.

 

The professor performed Hannah's original transplant operation ten years ago when she was just two.

 

 

 

Miracles do happen.

 

This is the little girl who Darius met the other year, see article below

 

From the Great Ormond Street site:-

 

Heart transplant patient Hannah Clark is a big fan of pop star Darius, so when he paid a surprise visit to her bedside on St Patrick's Day, she was lost for words.

 

Anti-rejection drugs and chemotherapy for three years have made Hannah feel unwell and low, so Darius's visit was a dream come true. The 11-year-old from Wales has been a Darius fan for years, and watched him turn the Christmas lights on in Cardiff. Hannah even has a pet hamster called Darius.

 

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what a wonderful outcome, let's hope she remains well. I wonder if Darius knows?

She is looking so much better than in the pic with D ...

 

What a lovely story .. I didnt place her as the girl with Darius last year but then as said before, she was looking so unwell in the picture and now she looks the picture of health

 

If D visiting her gave her a lift and the will to battle on, then he did her a power of good

 

 

Isn't it absolutely fantastic that her own heart is working perfectly now?

Thanks for bringing the story.

 

Bless her, looks as though she has put some weight back on.

Lets hope her health and strength continues to grow.

It is lovely isnt it, I was raving last night about it, my relatives think I have elavated Darius to a Messiah. But in my books the man is now a bonified miracle worker!

I think I'd give the credit to Sir Magdi Yacoub.

 

I do however believe that a strong spirit helps recovery and I think Darius helped to keep Hannah's spirits up.

 

I imagine he quietly continued to keep in touch with her and her parents as he has done so many times before. Sadly the outcome has not always been as happy.

She has been through so much already for a little girl :( (for anyone really). She does look so much better in the more recent photo Whoever gets the credit, lets hope she can go on to live a full, healthy and active life :)

Heart transplant patients normally have a few years don't they? I wonder if, as they were able to repair her own, it gives her a better chance of a longer life? I hope so!