Mum faces heart transplant wait far from home

A mother says it is "awful" to be separated from her family as she waits for a heart transplant 150 miles (240km) from home.

Charlotte Gibbs, who lives on the outskirts of Bristol, has already spent three weeks in hospital in Cambridge, with her family making a seven-hour round trip each weekend to see her.

The mother-of-two said: "They're exhausted. Two nights is the longest I have ever spent away from them since they were born."

But Gibbs said the family were focusing on "trying to see the good" and thanked friends and the local rugby club for rallying around the family to help pay for travel and accommodation costs.

Gibbs was diagnosed with heart failure 12 years ago after suffering with breathlessness while pregnant with her daughter.

But it was after her second pregnancy with her son that her symptoms grew more severe and doctors confirmed she would need a heart transplant after she was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy - a diseases of the heart muscle, affecting the heart's ability to pump blood around the body.

"It was a shock", said Gibbs. "We knew this would happen, but we hoped we had a few more years."

Further tests run by doctors revealed Gibbs' kidneys were also failing.

This has meant her having to stay at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, where her specialist is based, to be monitored until she has her transplant.

In the meantime, her family have remained focused on "trying to see the good", she said.

Gibbs said she was happy to be where she is in terms of her medical care, but it was hard to be away from her family.

The average wait time for a heart transplant once patients are on the urgent list is 50 days, according to NHS Blood and Transplant data.

Gibbs said: "My son even did say to me: 'Oh, mummy, we're really upset. But it's all going to be worth it when you come home with a shiny new heart.'

"And I think, if my eight-year-old can look on the bright side of it, then I've got to, really."

Gibbs' husband Mike said the support the family had received from the local community had been "above and beyond".

Kingswood Rugby Club held a match, organised by three of family friends, to raise money to help with travel and accommodation costs.

He said: "We knew we had good support, but I think we underestimate how good.

"I can't even tell how many different people have taken the dogs out for a walk or popped round to let them out when we're up at Cambridge for the day."

Ian Starr, club chair at Kingswood Rugby Club, said Charlotte and her family were a "massive part" of the club and loved by everyone.

He said: "We wanted to show them just how much they mean to us and let them know that the whole Kingswood family is behind Charlotte as she faces this difficult journey.

"They'll always have our love and support."

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