AN Annan heart transplant patient’s family has given an early Christmas gift to NHS Golden Jubilee by raising over £10,000 to thank the team for saving their daughter’s life.
Ashley Smith, from Annan, decided she wanted to give something back to the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS) that saved her daughter, Lucy Smith, 23, following her heart transplant earlier this year.
After spending long hours at Lucy’s bedside, Ashley noticed the need for more comfortable seating options, so she set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a chair bed for the ward, for families in similar situations.
It raised £2500 within a few hours and eventually closed at over £5000.
The chair bed was donated to the heart transplant ward, where it has been a valuable resource for both patients and families.
Ashley and her family then organised a second fundraiser, which included a raffle, football cards, and scratch cards. This event raised another £5000 for smartwatches, bringing the total to £10,000, all of which was donated to the hospital’s physiotherapy team.
Ashley added: “I felt it was important to support other departments within the hospital and therefore donated smartwatches to the physiotherapy team.
“These devices enable the team to track patients’ activities and heart rates, helping them maintain physical fitness—a critical factor in Lucy’s recovery.
“I want to express my gratitude to the staff within the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Unit and the teams across NHS Golden Jubilee for their incredible support and care throughout Lucy’s journey. They were like part of the family and made the hospital feel like a second home.”
Gordon James, chief executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, said: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Smith family for their incredible generosity.
“Their donation will have a profound impact on the lives of future heart patients across Scotland, enabling us to continue delivering world-class care and support to those in need.”
After a long surgery and with the help of the multidisciplinary recovery team, Lucy has a new lease of life.
She said: “The day of my transplant, was both the scariest and most hopeful day of my life. I was terrified, but I also knew it was my best chance at a healthy future.
“When I woke up after the surgery, I felt an immense sense of gratitude, not just for the medical team, but for the selfless donor who gave me this precious gift of life and I’m determined to make the most of the second chance I’ve been given.”
Post-transplant, Lucy has been managing her medication and recovering well. She plans to pass her driving test and pursue a career in nursing. Lucy wants to help others by sharing her experiences and providing support.
