Lung transplant success for cystic ­fibrosis sufferers at The Alfred

PATIENTS like Thor Bloomfield describe it as a “ticking time bomb” — for those born with cystic ­fibrosis, a lung transplant is their best hope. Now surgeons at The Alfred are beating records and giving more people a longer life.

SURGEONS at The Alfred hospital performed a record-breaking 102 lung transplants last year and Thor Bloomfield was one of the patients whose life was transformed.

As he approached his 40th birthday, Mr Bloomfield felt like he had a “ticking time bomb” in his chest.

He was born with cystic ­fibrosis and approaching the life expectancy for people with the genetic disorder.

Just months after this milestone birthday, the businessman and former actor, who featured on Neighbours and Rush, was floored by a bout of influenza.

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Thor Bloomfield received a lifesaving lung transplant late last year. With daughter Catherine and wife Emily. Picture: Sarah Matray

He enjoys rock climbing with Catherine. Picture: Sarah Matray

After three false starts, late last year he got his chance to receive a lung transplant.

“Before the transplant, I could barely get out of bed and walk into the kitchen to get a bowl of cereal,” he said.

“My body was in the process of shutting down.”

His recovery was fast-tracked by his determination, a trait passed on to him by his explorer father Earle Bloomfield, who led Australia’s first expedition to the Arctic and circumnavigated Tasmania in a sea kayak.

Mr Bloomfield recovering in The Alfred Hospital.

The lung transplant saved his life.

Now Mr Bloomfield can breathe properly for the first time, he’s pushing the limits.

“There is so much I am able to do now I have new lungs; I’m achieving my goals and creating even more dreams,” he said.

He enjoys rock climbing with daughter Catherine, 9, and eventually wants to scale Mt Everest.

The head of the hospital’s lung-transplant team, Prof­essor Greg Snell, said the history-making number of transplants was possible thanks to the generosity of donors and their families.

Earle Bloomfield, Thor's notable explorer father.

He said the success could be traced to an organ donation funding injection in 2009.

“Ninety-six out of 100 ­patients now get to a transplant whereas the figure back then was more like 70 out of 100,” Prof Snell said.

Waiting times have reduced from nine months to three months in that period.

“The more transplants you do, the better you get at it,” Prof Snell said.

“As experience builds up, we have also been able to increase the circle of organs that we use.

“It used to be a miracle and now it’s a standard part of clinical care.”

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