Ashington heart transplant survivor celebrates 35 years since getting the call that changed his life

It was 35 years ago and Andrew Jackson was watching TV in his Seghill bedroom when his dad ran up the stairs to tell him after two years of waiting, his heart transplant was now imminent.

Andrew can't remember much, though his cousin Tom drove them to the Freeman Hospital - and his family laughs that when he woke up after the operation the first thing he asked for was some cereal. Andrew's was a complex domino transplant, as his donor Penny Taylor, 21, was in need of a new heart and lungs.

Penny had cystic fibrosis and died around two years afterwards - but Andrew is still in touch with her parents and said that after an initially "very emotional" reunion, they had now become "almost extended family".

Andrew was born with five serious defects to his heart and had to undergo three operations before he was four months old. Ahead of the 35th anniversary on Sunday November 17, he told ChronicleLive: "When I was born I needed three operations. Then when I was maybe around seven they started to talk about a transplant.

"I went on the transplant list but I had to wait about two years. We got the call about three days before my 10th birthday. We had had a few false alarm calls before that. We had a pager and we couldn't go on holiday out of the country in case a heart became available, so we'd go to places like Haggerston Castle.

"But I can remember the phone call. I was in my room at the time. I remember it was a Thursday - because I don't like Thursdays - and I was watching TV, probably out of breath! My dad came in and said 'they've got a heart for you' and I remember my cousin driving us to the hospital."

Andrew, who was brought up in Seghill by parents Ken and Susan, and now lives in Ashington, doesn't remember much from then on, he said, until he woke up and asked for some food. His mum Susan held a number of roles at charity the Children's Heart Unit Fund, including chair and president.

Andrew, now 44, added: "I've had my ups and downs since then. About twenty years in, I suffered from heart palpitations, but after that really it's been plain sailing." Andrew even went on to play Sunday league football - as a 'keeper. Memorable moments include things that are normal for most but extraordinary for him, such as getting on his bike after the transplant.

Since his own transplant, Andrew has been a vocal advocate for organ donation - and he reiterated what he said as part of the ''Become a Donor' campaign a decade ago about the importance of donation.

Back then, he said: "Through the kindness of another human being, I have lived a full life. I am grateful for the little things, such as playing football. I am grateful for the big thing, like getting married.

“I go to the hospital every six weeks for a blood test and once a year I get an MOT. I am just thankful to be alive.”