A Yorkshire dad has seen his life transformed thanks to innovative new lung transplant technology.
Mark Wrenn with wife Laura at the Freeman(Image: NHS)
Dad Mark Wrenn has become the first patient to have a life-saving lung transplant through groundbreaking “organ-saving” technology at the Freeman Hospital. Mark, a telephone engineer by trade, had been fit and healthy but became ill during 2018.
He struggled with breathlessness and then, as his conditioned, at the age of just 40 was diagnosed with a rare condition which left him permanently dependent on oxygen. Shockingly, he had something called obliterative bronchiolitis in combination with an autoimmune disease.
His lung function fell to just 22%. But now thanks Newcastle’s new NOAH facility at the Freeman Hospital he has been able to have a transplant. NOAH stands for the Newcastle Organ Assessment Hub and sees the use of “perfusion” technology to preserve and assess donated organs, helping make more organs suitable for transplantation amid what has been described as an “urgent” need.
This is through “ex-vivo perfusion” which uses a machine to keep organs continuously supplied with blood and vital nutrients even once they have been removed from a donor’s body. Newcastle has the country’s only hub for this to be used all three of lungs, kidneys and livers – and the Freeman now also has a new machine to improve the process.
Doncaster dad Mark, who is dad to Ava, 15, and Lucas, 11, said: “Without NOAH, I would still be waiting for a transplant – it’s genuinely saved my life. When I was told about this new technology and the opportunity it gave me, it felt like hope. I’ve gone from being on permanent oxygen and struggling to do everyday things, to starting to get my life back again.
“Being able to spend time with my wife and children and think about the future once more means everything. I’ll always be grateful to the donor family and to the teams here in Newcastle who made this possible.”
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The Newcastle Hospitals NHS trust has been at the forefront of organ perfusion for more than a decade, carrying out the first such lung transplant in the UK back in 2009. However, now the new facility – and developing technology – will take this further, it is hoped.
Dr Gerard Meachery, a consultant who is joint director of the Freeman’s heart and lung transplant programme, said: “Newcastle Hospitals is delighted to bring lung, liver and kidney perfusion together under one roof at NOAH. This transformative approach reflects our commitment to innovation and gives more patients the chance of life‑changing transplants.
“For Mark and his family, the impact has already been life‑changing – offering hope, recovery and a future that once felt out of reach.”
Mark Wrenn, wife Laura and his Freeman Hospital treatment team(Image: NHS)
Mr Izanee Mydin, consultant surgeon led Mark’s surgery alongside organ retrieval surgeon Mylvaganam Jeyakanthan. Izanee said: “I’m incredibly proud to have performed Freeman Hospital’s first EVLP-supported lung transplant using the XVIVO XPS machine in our new NOAH site— this is a major step forward for our programme.
“This achievement reflects the expertise and dedication of a truly outstanding multidisciplinary team, including colleagues across surgery, perfusion, respiratory, theatres and anaesthetics. It’s a powerful example of how collaboration can drive innovation and improve outcomes for patients.”
Professor Andrew Fisher, NHS Blood and Transplant’s national clinical lead, added: “Mark’s story clearly shows the tremendous benefits that organ perfusion technology can have for people waiting for a transplant. Allowing organs that might not otherwise have been used to be carefully assessed and safely transplanted improves the chances of receiving a transplant and means more of the organs gifted can be successfully used.”
The vital ex-vivo perfusion equipment was funded in part by Newcastle Hospitals Charity, while the Frreeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association also supported the initiative by funding specialist training.
Hospital charity director Teri Bayliss said: “As the official charity for Newcastle Hospitals, we’re proud to support innovative, lifesaving and life-changing technology like this. It is amazing to see the impact this is already having – and will continue to have – on patients and their families. We are only able to fund these transformative programmes thanks to the incredible generosity of our many fundraisers, supporters and donors.”
To find out more, or confirm your support for organ donation, visit organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or use the NHS app. It is important to tell loved ones about your decision – as while the system is now “opt-out”, it is common for families to overrule a loved ones decision.
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