Double lung transplant means couple can dance again | Global News Avenue

“It’s like we have a second chance, we’re taking every opportunity,” Catherine Canning said.

In 2008, her husband John was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a lung disease – and he said he had to rely on oxygen 24 hours a day, even when walking for a short distance. Can’t breathe.

The 66-year-old used to dance with Catherine every week, but had to stop when his condition worsened when it became a pandemic.

John eventually had a double lung transplant in April 2023, meaning the couple from Leicestershire can dance again, and they booked a Mediterranean cruise this year.

Catherine, 60, was asked about their first dance and said: “It’s the best feeling, but it’s also a chance that others have given John too.

“The biggest smile on my face. I’m crying.

“We were with a great group of friends who provided a lot of support throughout the process, and they and our family were great, but these friends were like the family we chose.

“There are no dry eyes in the house, so I cried and smiled. I was wrong – even though it was a simple dance.

“It’s incredible because I never thought I would dance with him again.”

John lives in Barrow-upon-Soar with his wife and underwent surgery to reduce lung volume in 2020, which was ineffective, meaning he was recommended for a transplant.

He was told that when he was added to the transplant list in February 2023, he might spend a year finding donors.

But just over four weeks later, he received a call saying that the doctor had found his lungs.

Although one of the lungs was found to contain an inremovable infection, another pair was found a week later.

The family went to the Royal Papworth Hospital where John had the surgery.

Katherine said: “When he went to the surgery, he said goodbye to him in the elevator in the hospital, and my son and I went down the ground floor of the hospital and wept.

“My son is with me and he’s very smart, as John keeps saying, it’s probably much harder for me than it is for him.”

After the operation, John said he would notice improvement after waking up after spending 10 hours on the operating table.

“I’m not just limited to oxygen tanks, but I’m walking for a few minutes without breathing,” he said.

Last year, he walked 3.1 miles (5 km) on the Harvey Hadden Stadium in Nottingham, part of the UK transplant competition, which he described as “emotion”.

January 20th or Blue Monday – known by some as the most frustrating day of the year – the couple gave a voice to the BBC Radio leicester when listeners were asked about things they had to be cheerful.

The note said they will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the year and booked a Mediterranean cruise a few weeks after John was discharged from the hospital.

Katherine said it was “completely blue” when she was subsequently contacted by the BBC to elaborate on her story.

The two also urged people to talk to their loved ones about their desire to donate organs after death.

They said: “Every year, families are missing out on hundreds of transplant opportunities every year because they are uncertain about what to do.

“You can save up to nine lives by registering your decision to become an organ donor for two minutes.”