Rachael Wakefield has suffered from a rare lung condition since being a teenager and just last week told the Advertiser how time was running out.
But on Wednesday, the 22-year-old received the call she had been waiting for when Wythenshawe Hospital called to say they had found a possible match.
Mum Lynnette said: "We got the call at about 4.10am on Wednesday. Rachael had bought her own mobile phone and asked them to call her on that. I heard the phone ringing and then she came running into the bedroom crying. She has only been on the list for three months so it was really quick, the average wait is 18 months. She doesn’t usually have any luck but this time luck was on her side."
Following a 10-hour operation, Rachael was moved to intensive care where doctors say they are pleased with her progress. She is still heavily sedated but managed to open her eyes and give a thumbs-up to her mum and dad Philip.
Lynette, of Rosewood Close, Dukinfield, said: "The doctors are happy with everything. She can’t talk, she is still in a lot of pain, but yesterday she opened her eyes and she gave me and her dad the thumbs-up.
"She had already got me a lovely card for Mother’s day and when I opened it I just cried. Once she comes out of intensive care she will go onto a normal ward. Everyone is different but within three or four months she should be a normal person and we can all get our lives back. It’s amazing, a big weight lifted off our shoulders. I just can’t believe it’s actually happened. But our thoughts are with the donor’s family, we appreciate what they’ve done. All we know is it’s a young lady in the local area. Rachael can write a letter to them through the transplant co-ordinator and if they want to get in touch they can. It’s so sad for them but for us it’s like a dream come true."
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