Heart implant teenager recovering

The heart surgery saved the teenaged patient's life

A teenaged boy who became the youngest ever person to have an artificial heart implanted is now making a full recovery.

Jamie Darney, 16, from Port Talbot in south Wales fell ill 12 months ago.

His heart stopped fully functioning when he contracted a virus and he was taken to Harefield Hospital in London as a transplant patient.

A second, artificial heart was implanted into Jamie's body by surgeons.

We are absolutely relieved it's over for him. It's really been a hard 10 months

Margaret Darney, Jamie's mother

The teenager's own heart has now recovered from the virus that caused it to enlarge and then stop and the artificial one was removed last month.

His mother Margaret Darney said: "It came as such a shock, straight out of the blue.

"Three weeks before, he was playing rugby at school and a fit, healthy boy.

"We are absolutely relieved it's over for him. It's really been a hard 10 months."

Heart with batteries

Jamie could not play sport at all with the artificial heart.

He slept plugged into a special unit and carried the 6lb metal heart inside him.

Jamie also had to carry exterior batteries round with him.

"It was a drag because I couldn't do anything - it was just depressing," he said.

"I can sleep a lot easier now I don't have to worry about wires getting caught and I am looking forward to being able to do sports again."

Jamie had to miss his GCSEs and move down a year because of his illness.

But he is now back at St Joseph's Comprehensive School in Port Talbot and said he was determined to make up for lost time.