Kerry Fear, a 50-year-old woman from Yeovil, Somerset, shares the emotional journey of living with a congenital heart condition and facing the urgent wait for a heart transplant. Born seemingly healthy, Kerry’s struggles began within weeks as she had trouble feeding and was unusually sleepy. At just six weeks old, a concerned GP referred her for specialist care, leading to the discovery that Kerry had three heart chambers instead of four, two holes in her heart, and her main arteries were reversed.
Unable to undergo immediate treatment, Kerry underwent innovative Fontan surgery at age five, followed by decades of multiple open-heart operations, pacemaker implants, and cardiac treatments. Despite her resilience and relatively active life, she has experienced a gradual decline in heart function, with treatments becoming less effective. Now, she awaits a heart transplant, listed at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, since May 2024.
Kerry describes the emotional toll of waiting: “Every time the phone rings, you panic. But I try to live in the moment, working part-time, walking my dogs, enjoying family life, and even kayaking.” She points out the uncertainty that transplant patients live with daily, balancing hope and fear.
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Her story highlights a broader crisis in organ donation. As of March 2025, the UK has an unprecedented 8,096 patients on the active transplant waiting list, with nearly 12,000 people living in uncertainty when including those temporarily suspended. Despite this, donor numbers have declined, with a 2% drop in transplants nationwide last year. The South West region remains steady, but consent rates remain low at 59%, with numerous families overruling or withholding consent despite the government’s opt-out system.
Kerry advocates passionately for organ donation: “It’s a positive gift – your organs can give someone else a new life. My family supports donation, and I will honour my donor by living fully and gratefully if given this chance.” Her dream is simple yet profound: “To run a marathon and live without limits.”
Health officials stress the importance of registering as organ donors and having clear conversations with loved ones to ease the burden on families during difficult decisions. Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, said: “With waiting lists at record highs and donation rates falling, we urgently need more people to register and discuss their wishes. Every donation saves lives.”
Kerry’s story is a poignant reminder of the fragile balance between life and hope for thousands awaiting the gift of a second chance.