After trepidation, desperation and complication, finally hope, and home.

Sydney Morning Herald


Photo: Setback ... Tianna is told the bad news that the donor organs are not viable, in a devastating setback before her successful transplant. Photo: Janie Barrett

After months of treatment and a heart and double-lung transplant, Tianna Formosa was hopeful of enjoying a bit of normality this weekend.

''I am looking forward to going out for the first time this weekend to my friend Cameron's birthday, and seeing a lot of my friends for the first time since my transplant,'' the 18-year-old told The Sun-Herald on Thursday.

''I'm finally home now with my mum, dad and baby brother. My hopes are long-lasting health and finally being able to be a normal teenager and do everything my friends do.''

Tianna is exhausted, sore and severely underweight after more than a month in intensive care. She is anxious, too, because there have been several speedbumps on the road to recovery.

The most serious setback came weeks before her successful transplant. Tianna and her parents were called in about 10pm on a Sunday because a donor had been found and the surgeons were ready to operate. She was prepared for surgery about 6am. Unfortunately, the donor organs were found to be unviable and the transplant was aborted about 8am on the Monday.

Even after her successful transplant, the problems continued. There were complications that led to three more operations in a fortnight.
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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}

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