THE widow of a successful businessman who died just a year after receiving a lung transplant is encouraging others to be organ donors.

Carol and Brian Jackson had been married for only two weeks when Mr Jackson started struggling to breathe in 2005.

The 53-year-old, of Gainford, Teesdale, was referred to Darlington Memorial Hospital for tests and diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis – a condition which causes scarring on the lungs but has no known cause.

Mr Jackson was given steroids and tried to lead a normal life despite only having 63 per cent lung capacity but in 2014 his health deteriorated further and he was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension – a condition where the lungs cannot move blood around the heart.

Despite all his health problems, the managing director of BIB Insurance Brokers, in Darlington, fought on until July 2014 when his condition got so bad he was told he needed a lung transplant.

Mrs Jackson said the couple were turned down twice for being put on the transplant list while her husband was in the ‘window’ – a period of time when a patient is poorly enough to warrant the massive procedure but strong enough to survive it.

Mr Jackson was put on the list in May 2015 and the couple had their first call in August 2015 before being told the lungs were not suitable.

Not deterred, they carried on and in November, were told they had a match.

Mrs Jackson said: “We waited and waited and then at 8am we were told it was a go. Oh my god I felt sick, stressed, shaking, crying, and laughing every emotion.

“Poor Brian was terrified. We said goodbye at the doors to the theatre. I rang his family in Scotland who came straight down so I just sat and sat and sat.”

After a complicated operation, Mr Jackson was kept sedated for ten days and nearly died before being allowed to go home in March 2016.

The couple enjoyed family time as Mr Jackson got stronger but unfortunately started to go downhill again in August 2016 before going back to hospital for the last time that October.

Mrs Jackson, 49, said: “They tried so hard to keep patching him up but sadly in November they told us there was nothing more they could do and they were going to not do anymore for him.”

He died at home, surrounded by his family, on November 20, just a year and a day after his “lungaversary”.

More than 350 people attended the 64-year-old’s funeral and raised money for the Freeman Hospital.

And despite their struggle, Mrs Jackson is encouraging others to join the donor register.

She said: “Brian loved life and we had a lovely, happy marriage and I know I met the love of my life. But I also know that without the transplant Brian would have never got his chance and we wouldn’t have had the extra time we got.

“We were lucky to have each other, lucky to have a chance and also I was lucky that I got to sit with him whilst he slipped away and say goodbye. It could have all been so different in good and bad ways.”

She added: “I have and always will have the utmost admiration for all of the staff at the Freeman as the care, patience and dedication they had with Brian was outstanding.

“They are always promoting organ donation and usually with a happy ending story.

“Ours didn’t have a happy ending but as I’ve said we were lucky to have that chance and for many it works.

“We must continue to support organ donation as over 6,000 people in the UK are waiting for a transplant and a high percentage die whilst waiting.

“Yes my story isn’t a good advert but if I can still be positive and promote it then surely other people can be.”