KEVIN Mashford has already had six major operations, but now the father- of-two is waiting for a new heart because surgeons can do no more to help him.
The 35-year-old was born with congenital heart disease. Cardiologists initially diagnosed his condition as a hole in the heart when he was a baby but did not know much about the disease he also suffered.
Mr Mashford, of Backwell, had his first heart operation at the age of eight, and following surgery his parents were warned that their son might not last the night.
He spent the best part of a year in hospital in Liverpool following the operation and then had more surgery at the age of 17 and 27 to replace heart valves and to put a defibrillator in his chest.
"I have had six major reconstructive heart operations but last year I was becoming quite ill and they discovered that the metal valve was stuck," he said.
He was referred to Newcastle, where he will have his transplant and they carried out assessments and investigations, where he was told that a new heart was his only option.
"They can't operate on my heart any more as there is too much scar tissue and the best scenario would be to get on the transplant list, so I am just sat waiting. My phone does not leave my side or get switched off.
"The fear for me is that there are lots of people waiting for heart transplant that are so unwell they are plugged into a machine. I'm not plugged into a machine, I run my own business and have got my two kids. I don't want to get that sick."
Mr Mashford, who runs an interior design and commercial office space business in Clifton, said the possibility of a heart transplant was first discussed when he was in hospital at the age of 17. "That was when I first became aware that it might be likely at some point but it was not really discussed in detail until about five years ago or so," he said.
Mr Mashford said that his health has deteriorated in recent years.
"I get very tired and I can see a decline in myself. I can see that I am actually slowing down and cannot do as much as I could.
"At the end of a day at work I'm tired and while I would really like to go home and play with the kids and run around with them that is not really an option now. I am very tired and get breathless and I can feel quite sick and unwell."
Having spoken to the transplant team at Newcastle Mr Mashford, who is married to Jo, has found out more about organ donation.
"I have always championed people being on the organ donor list and have had many different conversations in many different arenas.
"I didn't realise until I went to Newcastle for my assessments that about 30 per cent of the country are on the register and of that about 44 per cent are wasted because people have not told their relatives.
"There were quite a lot of eye-openers in the transplant assessment. I look at it as a funnel – there are 33 per cent of hearts, then 44 per cent are not available and then you have to start looking at blood group and antibodies because of previous surgery."
NHS Blood and Transplant, which is responsible for the organ donor register, launched a campaign to encourage people to sign up to donate their organs but also to ensure their next of kin know of their wishes.
To add your name to the register call 0300 123 2323, text JOIN to 84880 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
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