Becky J was 20 and living with cystic fibrosis when a severe, drug-resistant Aspergillus infection threatened her life. After spending more than a year on the transplant waiting list, she received a double lung transplant at Wythenshawe Hospital in 2011.
In an interview with the BBC after her operation, Becky described being able to breathe more easily and return to everyday activities that had previously required careful planning. She was able to travel, go shopping and spend time with friends more spontaneously.
Becky died several months after the transplant from complications. Her family, the medical team and patients who learned about her experience remembered her courage and her determination to help improve treatment for others with serious fungal disease.
This page remembers Becky and the hope her story brought to people affected by severe Aspergillus infection. It is a historical account, not current medical guidance.
Read the original BBC report about Becky’s transplant.
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