In October 2024, one of our friends and colleagues, Martyn Jackson sadly fell very ill. Thankfully, he is now on the mend and so we feel it is the right time for the Stephensons family to show him some support!
In March 2025 the regulatory team will be completing a challenge to raise money for a charity selected by Martyn, that helped him with his recent heart transplant.
The charity is New Start, one of five heart and lung transplant centres in the UK, this one covering the North West. The challenge itself will be to run/walk a total of 1,085km in March. All 11 team members will be getting involved and will need to complete approximately 99km each across the month. We will be recording our progress on Strava so we can keep you all updated of how we are getting on. We will be covering 1,085km to raise awareness for the average wait time for an adult in the UK to receive a heart transplant being 1,085 days as reported by the NHS. Visit our JustGiving page here.
Martyn is fully supporting the challenge and would be grateful for everyone’s support towards this amazing charity. He has provided his story of how the charity helped him below:
On 15 October 2024, I woke up during the night struggling to breathe and stay conscious. My wife and I agreed to call 111 and I was advised to get to A&E at Wigan Hospital as soon as possible. Whilst at Wigan Hospital, I was quickly placed on an oxygen mask and moved into their cardiac unit where they undertook several tests. I was then told that I had a problem with my heart, and I would be transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital as they specialise in cardiology.
I presumed I would be transferred the following day, but that wasn’t the case, and I was informed an ambulance was already on its way and I was blue lighted to Wythenshawe Hospital within the hour. This is when I realised it may be a little more serious than I first thought. On arrival and following a few more tests, I was admitted to the intensive care unit because of a viral infection that was attacking my heart and lungs, which had caused myocarditis and myocardial shock.
After being told my heart and other organs were deteriorating, I was placed in an induced coma for 10 days. Whilst sedated I underwent numerous surgeries as the doctors attempted to save my heart by using various machines to assist with my heart function. Unfortunately, the virus had caused too much damage which resulted in total heart failure. This had a knock-on effect with other organs causing them to start shutting down and additional support being required in the form of increased oxygen demand and a kidney filter.
When I was woken up, I remained on mechanical life support for numerous weeks to allow the doctors to monitor and assess before informing me that I needed a heart transplant and would need to go onto the super urgent waiting list. However, this wasn’t without its complications as in order to go on the list I would need my lungs to recover after one had collapsed and my kidney function also needed to improve.
At the end of November, I received the news that a heart had become available and following numerous checks by the transplant team to ensure it was a suitable match, I underwent the heart transplant surgery which lasted 9 hours. I was then placed into a second induced coma for a further seven days to recover.
When I was awoken, I received the news that the transplant was successful, and my road to walking and talking again began!
On 20 December 2024, I took my first steps and on 06 January 2025, I was discharged from hospital as I could now walk unassisted and I was medically sound. I was in hospital for a total of 84 days during which time I received great care which I cannot thank the doctors, surgeons, nurses and physios enough for what they have done for me. I am also very grateful for the support of the charity, New Start, who helped me find a donor and for their support throughout this journey.
I would also like to thank the donor of my new heart as I wouldn’t be here without them.
My family, friends, work colleagues and especially my wife, Lucy, have been amazing all the way through this journey and I am grateful for their support.
Although I am still recovering at the moment, and there is a long way to go, I am determined to get myself back to normal as quickly as possible and I am hoping to join the final leg of the challenge.
Thanks, Martyn
We will be in the office with collection buckets throughout March and would be grateful for everyone’s support, whether that be through donations, sharing our social media posts and the JustGiving link, or joining in with some of our daily walks/runs.
As a final note, Martyn, we hope you continue your recovery, you are an absolute soldier and we hope to see you back very soon!
JustGiving - New Start, The Wythenshawe Hospital Transplant Fund
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