I was given a new lease of life thanks to liver transplant
Steve Eillett from Brockdish who has recently had a Iife saving liver transplant.Picture by: Sonya Duncan - Credit: Sonya Duncan
A man from Norfolk has received life saving surgery that has cleared him of haemophilia and cancer.
Steve Sillett, 56, from Brockdish, near Diss, was diagnosed at birth with the hereditary condition, haemophilia, a disorder in which the blood does not clot properly.
He was then one of thousands of people to be contaminated with Hepatitis C and/or HIV in the 1970s and 1980s by blood supplied by the NHS which he used to self inject to help with the clotting.
The HGV driver was cleared of the contracted Hepatitis C 12 years ago.
But he later developed liver cancer.
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After only a few month on the transplant list at Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, Mr Sillett received the life-changing call.
Mr Sillett said: 'I got the call on February 25 to go straight to Addenbrooke's.
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'My wife, Diane, thought I was joking when I told her they had a liver match for me.
'We had mixed emotions – fear along with elation.'
After nearly 10 hours in surgery and nine days in hospital he was told the transplant was a success and he was free of both cancer and haemophilia.
Mr Sillett said: 'I still cannot get my head around it.
'Fifty six years and it is gone, just like that.
'To also be free of liver cancer is incredible too. I have now been given five to 10 years to live instead of just a few months.
'I feel amazing, more energy. I have my life back.
'Next year my wife and I are heading off on our dream holiday to Australia.'
Last week prime minister David Cameron apologised on behalf of the government to the victims of the contaminated blood scandal.
Mr Sillett said: 'It is a little late for an apology.
'I'm one of the lucky ones, but many others are still suffering and dying. We need action from the government.'
Do you have an NHS story? Email michelle.finch@archant.co.uk
