Dr Catherine McCarroll’s life changed drastically last year when she was told that she required a double lung transplant, less than a month after giving birth to her daughter Eve.
During Organ Donation Awareness Week, Catherine recalls her journey to Ulster Star, going from being terminally ill, struggling to walk from her bed to the bathroom, to getting her life back.
Foundation doctor, Catherine McCarroll, who is employed in the South Eastern Trust, was diagnosed with a non-specific inflammatory lung disease when she was in medical school, however she continued to be medically stable for many years.
However, during the latter part of pregnancy Catherine became increasingly short of breath.
Catherine believed the stress of pregnancy was causing her condition to deteriorate and hoped that after her cesarian section at 34 weeks, she would return to her healthy self.But on 31 March last year, the day baby Eve was brought home, Catherine was informed she would need to receive a double lung transplant in order to survive.
Source: Young mum who needed double lung transplant urges others to sign up for organ donation