ONE of Britain's first heart-lung transplant patients has realised her dream to become a mum.

Mandy Andrews, 33, underwent the operation in Newcastle's Freeman Hospital 14 years ago. She had always dreamt of becoming a mother but was warned it might be too much of a strain on her body.

Hospital staff were in tears as Mandy held her baby son and said: "It's not a dream, I'm a mother, I'm a mother."

Mandy was 19 when she had a double lung and heart transplant. Almost a decade later she had a second double lung transplant. And yesterday she was back in hospital once again - but this time to give birth to 5lb 6oz Harry Richard.

Single mum Mandy was expected to return to her parents Doreen and Richard's home in Hartlepool, Teesside, before the end of the week.

Doreen said: "We still can't believe it, We're all on cloud nine, It's better than we ever dreamt it would be.

"Mandy has had the gift of life twice and now she has given that gift to someone else - her own baby. We never thought we'd see this day. She can't wait to be back home."