Teenager who spent a decade hooked up to an oxygen machine before having a double lung transplant decides to train as a doctor (and jump out of a plane for charity)

A brave teenager who spent nearly a decade hooked up to an oxygen machine is to train as a doctor. Ayesha Ahmed, 19, suffers from Wegener's disease, where inflammation of the blood vessels attacks her lungs. The condition made it so difficult for her to breathe that for nine years she was hooked up to an oxygen machine 24-hours-a-day.

 

Ayesha Ahmed suffers from Wegener's Disease, an inflammation of the blood vessels which attacks her lungs. Her life has been transformed by double lung transplant

At one point, she came so close to dying that relatives even began making funeral plans. But just over a year ago Ayesha became the youngest patient in the world with Wegener's disease to have a double lung transplant, which has transformed her life. As well as throwing herself into every activity going to make full use of her new lungs, the teenager will next year go to Leeds University to study medicine.

Ayesha, who lives in Newcastle, with her mother Nahida and three younger sisters, said: 'Some people might not want to go near hospitals after what they've been through, but it's what I've always wanted to do. I just missed out on the grades I needed for Leeds University - I needed 3 As but got an A and two Bs. But the university has been so good to me - they've told me to take a year out and go there next year. They want to make sure I'm totally well because it's a really tough course and so competitive. I was really upset at not getting the grades at first, but now I can see it's a good thing. The last two years have been so hectic, with the transplant, recovering and exams, so this gives me a year to relax, although I have got some plans.'

The condition meant that Ayesha, aged 15 in this picture, had to be hooked up to an oxygen machine 24-hours-a-day for nine years. The teenager now plans to study medicine

Before she leaves home to follow her university dream, Ayesha plans to travel to abroad to take part in a week-long project aimed at helping under-privileged communities. The World Challenge trip will see Ayesha and fellow pupils at Heaton Manor School, in Newcastle, jet to Morocco next June, where they will take part in two weeks of trekking and working in villages to carry out community work.

Ayesha needs to raise £1,395 to fund the trip, and she will take part in a sponsored bungee jump on November 26 to help her reach that target. She said: 'Two years ago I was too unwell to even get on a plane, so this trip to Morocco is a huge opportunity for me. 'We'll go trekking and help out in communities where health services are needed and the people can't help themselves. 'I'm excited and scared about the bungee jump. Some people say that if you've been so close to death you'd want to stay away from things that are dangerous.  'But I just think that what's meant to be will be, and I was meant to get better to do things like this.'

 Source: Daily Mail UK 

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