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Lung girl's final plea
Exclusive by Emily Cook, Health Correspondent 08/10/2007
Sick Jessica Wales has made a last desperate plea for a double lung transplant to save her life.
The 18-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer knows she will die within weeks unless a donor can be found because her lung capacity has already shrunk to the size of a Coke can.
Jessica, who has been on the waiting list for two years, said: "You can't get much worse than I am. I'm really clinging on. And I know if I don't get lungs in the next few weeks or months I will probably die." Jessica, of Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby. She is on oxygen 24 hours a day and in a wheelchair.
Her lung capacity is one third of a litre. Normal is six litres.
And she has backed the call to let doctors take organs from anyone who dies. Jessica added: "Most people are in favour of giving organs. But a lot forget to sign up. They want to be donors."
To sign the Organ Donor Register, call 0845 6060400
FAMILY CURSE
Cystic fibrosis is hereditary
It mainly affects the lungs and digestive system
Average life expectancy is 31 but new treatments can but new treatments can increase that.
[url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/10/08/lung-girl-s-final-plea-89520-19912920/]Mirror
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