Easy breathing - the gift of new lungs

Ciaran Murphy's life has changed dramatically

Eight weeks ago, Ciaran Murphy was taking what might so easily have been his last breaths.

Now, thanks to the gift of two new lungs, Ciaran, who is 22 years old and a talented musician, sings for the sheer joy of living.

"My mum hasn't come down from the chandeliers yet," he said.

Ciaran, from Glengormley, has cystic fibrosis. Prior to his lung transplant, he could do very little without becoming tired and listless.

"I needed oxygen when I was out and about walking," he said.

"I could feel myself going down hill quite quickly towards the end. Since I've had my transplant, everybody has been telling me how bad and sick I looked before.

"Now I have a whole new lease of life. The reality of living life on a transplant list is that you could die waiting for a transplant. I was fortunate - a lot of people aren't.

"I would urge everybody out there to sign the register. It gives people like me a chance to live life - a second chance to be able to enjoy everyday things."

To see Ciaran getting wheeled out of surgery - the pink nails and pink lips - was just unbelievable Deirdre Murphy

Ciaran said the eight weeks since his lung transplant had been "quite unbelieveable".

He had previously not been able to sing a song without having to stop for breath or to cough. All that has changed.

Now, he sings Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" with a voice of a young man who has been given a second chance at life.

His mother, Deirdre, is overjoyed for him.

"The donor family will never know what a gift they have given to Ciaran. He was quite close to the wire and it was a very long wait... the longer we waited, the most sick Ciaran was getting," she said.

"You couldn't describe how we felt when the call came and then to see Ciaran getting wheeled out of surgery - the pink nails and pink lips - was just unbelievable."

In Organ Transplant Week, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke has called for more people in Northern Ireland to register with the UK Organ Donor Register.

In 2007 / 2008, there were three heart transplants and three lung transplants for people in Northern Ireland, but three people also died waiting for heart and lung transplants.

Andrew Dougal, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke said: "Heart and lung transplant patients can die while waiting for a transplant so it is important that as many people as possible consider organ donation to ensure a greater chance of life for people waiting for transplants."

The address to register for organ donation is www.organdonation.nhs.uk.