In a heartwarming reunion, the inaugural patient to undergo a heart transplant at Birmingham Children's Hospital has returned to express gratitude to the medical team that saved her life. Jasmine Page, a 27-year-old resident from Halesowen, made history when she received the emergency procedure at the tender age of 12 after collapsing at school. Fifteen years later, during World Heart Month in February, she revisited the hospital to reconnect with her caregivers and raise awareness about the critical importance of organ donation.
A Special Homecoming
Jasmine shared her emotions about the visit, stating, "It's been such a special experience to return to the hospital where I spent so much of my childhood. The hospital was like a second home to me." During her time there, she toured the specialist cardiac ward where she had stayed as a young patient and met with the doctors and nurses who had provided care throughout her transplant journey. Her mother, Saundra Page, added, "It's been so overwhelming visiting the ward after so many years; it brought back a lot of memories, and it was wonderful to see everyone again. I'm just so grateful for the support they have given our family. It's our home from home."
Early Health Challenges
Jasmine's health struggles began early in life when she developed Kawasaki disease at three years old. This condition led to blood clots forming in her arms, necessitating procedures to remove the clots and repair her veins while she was in primary school. Unfortunately, the disease also caused aneurysms and swelling of the blood vessels in her heart arteries, resulting in a cardiac condition that was closely monitored throughout her childhood.
Critical Emergency and Transplant
Her situation took a dramatic turn when she unexpectedly collapsed just before a music lesson at Windsor High School and Sixth Form, going into cardiac arrest. Jasmine recounted, "I was extremely lucky that a teacher was standing next to me who knew first aid. He performed CPR, which saved my life." She was rushed via blue-light ambulance to a local hospital before being transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital, as it became evident she was in critical condition and required an emergency heart transplant.
Specialist surgeons from Great Ormond Street Hospital hurried to Birmingham to perform the five-hour operation alongside the Children's Hospital staff. The surgery proved successful, with Jasmine responding well and receiving post-transplant care from medical teams at both institutions. She reflected, "The Children's Hospital has a special place in mine and my family's heart. They made it such a welcoming environment and not a scary place for a child to go. I'm so grateful to my donor and their family – organ donation is a huge lifeline. I wouldn't be here without it."
Post-Transplant Journey and Recovery
After the transplant, Jasmine was able to return to school and continued receiving care at Birmingham Children's Hospital until adulthood. However, at age 24, she faced another health challenge when diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), a condition that causes lymph gland swelling and can progress to lymphoma, a type of cancer. Approximately one in ten children who undergo a heart or lung transplant develop some form of PTLD, and unfortunately, Jasmine's case advanced to Stage 4 Burkitt-like non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
She underwent chemotherapy for a year, describing it as a difficult period that required a year off work. Jasmine noted, "I had previous experience of being in hospital and knew I was in the safest hands. Unfortunately, PTLD can happen post-transplant, but without that donor heart I wouldn't be here. It gave me the strength to get through the next phase of my journey." She responded well to treatment and is now in remission, having returned to work as a special educational needs teacher.
Advocacy and Gratitude
Jasmine emphasized her desire to give back, saying, "I've had so much help and support throughout my life that I want to do what I can to give back now." She concluded with a powerful message, "It's such a full-circle moment to return to the hospital that gave me my life. These staff members, along with the power of organ donation, made my life possible. Please take five minutes today and have a chat with your family about your organ donation wishes. It could save a life, like it did mine, and I'm so incredibly grateful."
