Gilbert's Story

At 58 years old, Gilbert Wheeler underwent a heart transplant which saved his life.

I have had a very long and tireless journey dealing with all that comes with having a heart condition. Trying to accept that I had a condition after a normal healthy upbringing, getting up to all sorts of physical activities.

I have been through so much with regular hospital and GP visits, blood tests, screening, scanning and much more to change my way of living and relying on medication for the rest of my life.

It was a long time waiting. But once they could see the urgency that I might need a transplant, I was moved up the heart transplantation list and consequently, it had got to the point where I had to be transplanted, otherwise, there were only two weeks left for me to live.

My heart had deteriorated so badly that without the operation, my life would have ended without my heart transplant. I had tubes coming out of me in every direction, but I felt as though all the problems I’d had with breathing and everything else had gone. It was like a weight being lifted off my back. Like I had been walking around with a rucksack on my back all my life and this had gone.

You’d see my energy and the positivity this was having on my body and my heart; it had made a massive difference to the way my life was and is now. I came out from the transplant, and apart from all the aches and pains that you have from having a heart transplant, I think once those were gone it felt like a new me. I felt free, I felt I was able to breathe, and I felt like it was easy, whereas before I felt everything was such a struggle to do.

Without my heart transplant, I would’ve only had a few weeks left to live. It’s allowed me to see much more of my family and much more of life. Although life is slightly different for me now, it’s still giving me that opportunity to live.

A big point of transplantation is about getting the public to sign up for the organ donation register, as without this I may not have got my transplant. Whilst it is tragic to lose a life, there is a benefit of helping to save a life by registering for organ donation, especially in young people who still have a life to live. It’s such a great thing the gift of life can be given to somebody and probably one of the best things ever for a family or anyone to have.

I am so thankful for all the research and studies that have helped people like me to live a bit longer, so I can see my family grow and meet my grandchildren.