Gran who underwent 11 cornea transplants can watch family grow up thanks to organ donors

Julie Currie who has had 11 corneal transplants
-Credit: (Image: NHS / Julie Currie)


A grandmother can now see her grandchildren thanks to the selfless gift of a cornea transplant.

Julie Currie has had a total of 11 corneal transplants over her lifetime, and can only see her children and grandchildren thanks to the donors who passed on their organs. The Darlington woman, a patient at Sunderland Eye Hospital, has shared her story to raise awareness of organ donation and specifically of the nationwide shortage of corneas needed to save the sight of someone like her.

The 57-year-old has an inherited eye condition called corneal dystrophy. Her father George Youngs had the same condition, and her son Ricky Lumb also has it.

All three have been beneficiaries of cornea transplants. The condition means the cornea cannot pump fluid across the cornea, and this leads to blistering on the surface of her eyes that Julie said was like seeing underwater.

"I want to express just how much it means to have a transplant, I'm so grateful," she explained. "To anyone out there facing that decision, to me, it is like that family member is still alive.

"Because I'm able to continue to use their tissue – their cornea – it's keeping that part of them going, they're still seeing the world. It means I can see my grandchildren and that is amazing.

"The transplants I've had have just made such a difference to my life. I'd started to lose my confidence and not be able to do things for myself. My sight now isn't perfect and I do still need some help, but I can see so much better.

"Since our first grandchild was born, we've been looking to see if they also have the condition, because it's inherited, but so far, they're OK. It's not easy being in school. I grew up feeling different to other children around me."

Julie Currie who has had 11 corneal transplants - with son Ricky
Julie Currie who has had 11 corneal transplants - with son Ricky -Credit:NHS / Julie Currie

She said her message to anyone in the horrendous situation of deciding whether a loved ones organs should be donated was simple, adding: "I think for anyone who has made that choice to donate, it is an amazing thing to do to make that difference. I want to put out that message to other people, this is a way their loved ones can go on and see."

Nationally, there is a shortage of corneas available for transplant, and at the Sunderland Eye Hospital - run by the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust - there are around 80 patients who have been waiting more than a year for a transport. Though around 50 donations are received each week, the demand is much higher.

Julie's first transplant took place when she was just 19. Over the years, she has had ten more, both at Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Moorfields in London and Darlington Memorial. She has required multiple treatments as her body has rejected the transplants or there have been other complications.

Sunderland Eye Infirmary consultant Saurabh Ghosh
Sunderland Eye Infirmary consultant Saurabh Ghosh -Credit:NHS

After completing two degrees, she worked as a public servant at Darlington Council, though is now retired. She is married to Graham, 54, and has a daughter Christine, as well as her son Ricky. She has four grandchildren, Phoebe, Richard, Leonard and Beatrice.

Consultant Saurabh Ghosh carries out corneal transplants regularly. He said: "The gift of sight or life is the greatest gift someone can give. Not only that, but one person's donations can help many people, so the difference it can make is not only to that patient, but to their friends and family too, is huge.

"As Organ Donation Week nears, we really want to encourage people to have that conversation to share their views. While it is opt out, family members sometimes say no when it comes to the eyes. We know people can be unsure, but it makes no difference to how they look once the cornea has been taken and only that part is touched.

"There was a long backlog before Covid and now, those who have been on the waiting list the longest are rightly called first, and of course there are emergencies because people have experienced a trauma. But that means overall, waits are long, and there just isn't the supply for us to be able to help as many people as we want to. Please take time to have that chat with your family. It could mean so much to someone out there."

To find out more about organ donation, visit the NHS Blood and Transplant Organ Donation website. Meanwhile the hospital trust's STS Charity is running a Vision Appeal - which is seeking to support the in-the-works new Sunderland eye hospital with "extras" and the best equipment possible. For more information, visit the STS Charity page.

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