Heart op teenager Sally Slater celebrates special anniversary

Mar 28 2010 by Nigel Green, Sunday Sun

HER life or death plight captured the nation's heart. But today heart swap op teenager Sally Slater looks a picture of health as she prepares to celebrate a special anniversary.

Looking at her, it is hard to believe 10 years ago this week she was fighting for life after a mystery virus destroyed her heart.

Pictures of Sally lying unconscious on a ventilator in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital made headline news as her mum and dad launched a nationwide appeal to find a donor, and after an agonising 10-day wait, one was found and Sally’s life was saved.

Speaking on the anniversary of the transplant, 16-year-old Sally told how she would like to see organs automatically donated - unless people choose to opt out.

At the moment the law requires people to join the NHS’s Organ Donor Register.

Sally said: “My life was saved because someone was kind enough to register.

“But there are many, many more people whose lives could also be saved if more people registered.

“I know this is hard for many families and the scheme would need carefully thinking through to avoid potential problems.

“But people have to consider how they would feel if it was their son, daughter, mother or father who desperately needed a transplant.”

Sally was saved after a middle-aged woman died and her family - touched by Sally’s plight - came forward.

Thanks to their kindness, Sally can enjoy life to the full and plans to mark the anniversary on Thursday by having a few friends around for a small party.

She said: “They all know about what happened to me but they just treat me as a normal girl and I don’t feel any different.”