A NORTH-EAST hospital is throwing a party to mark the 100th patient born with complex heart disease to have undergone a heart transplant.

The Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, is celebrating this landmark with a balloon release, conference and celebratory lunch with patients and their families on Monday (September 1).

Before surgery none of these patients expected to live to adulthood.

The Freeman Hospital has an international reputation for pioneering expertise in transplant surgery and infant cardiology treatment.

The hospital’s Cardiothoracic Centre is home to the largest adult congenital heart transplant centre in the world.

No other UK centre has the same expertise in this challenging field of transplantation and the centre provides a national service.

Many of the patients attending the celebration have received heart and heart and lung transplants at the Freeman Hospital spanning the last 27 years.

They will attend to show their support and thanks to their donors and the work of the specialist transplant team.

The Freeman Hospital provides specialist treatment for all types of heart and respiratory related conditions in adults and children.

The first adult heart transplant was successfully performed in 1985, followed by the UK’s first successful baby heart transplant in 1987. The first adult congenital heart transplant took place in 1988.

The first patient to receive a lifesaving heart transplant for adult congenital disease, David Yates, from Newcastle said: “Twenty-six years ago, a 25-year-old man died and his family unselfishly thought of others, rather than their own grief. They donated their son’s heart. I was the fortunate beneficiary – I received a second chance of life - I now had a future to hope for.”

Many, many more success stories followed thanks to the dedication and skill of staff.