My name is Alison Gray. I’m a proud member of the Mulligans society after receiving the most precious gift of a new heart on 20th February 2022.

I suddenly started to feel unwell just 2 years after I got married, no warning signs apart from sickness and lethargic….. I thought I was pregnant, which would have been understandable as we were hoping to start a family! After months back and forth to the doctors, I was eventually diagnosed with
cardiomyopathy and heart failure. My brother had had a heart transplant 19 years earlier, so I was aware how serious this was.
To the amazement of my cardiologist, I coped quite well on medication even although I had been warned that medication would probably not work as I was so sick and weak, but I had to try! After a year I got an ICD ( defribillator) fitted, then after deteriorating 7 months later I got an upgrade to a dual device with a pacemaker included. This was life changing for me. I could get back to living a normal life. I took up golf at this time.

I was stable for nearly 14 years until I contracted COVID 19 in October 2021. I thought I had recovered fully but unfortunately in early February 2022 my defibrillator starting firing , several times in one day. My cardiologist told me he thought my heart was done and I should consider going on the transplant list. This was actually a very easy decision to make as I was aware I wouldn’t be able to bounce back this time. 3 weeks after my life saving operation, I was back home. My surgeon assured me within 12 weeks after my operation I would be able to get back to playing golf, true to his word I was!

My determination to look after my new heart, be healthy and stay active gave me the drive and focus to continue to play golf and stop every now and again to pinch myself that I am still alive and living the life my donor never got the chance to. I owe it to her and will be forever grateful. I won The Race To The Open national finals at St Andrews 7 months after my heart transplant. It just shows with determination and amazing support from friends and family what is achievable.

Our golf days are not just about taking part and competing, they also give us the opportunity to talk to each other about our journeys, share any concerns about our health and help each other get through those tough times. We are here for each other as we are all going on this incredible second chance journey together!

With the help of The Mulligans and Transplant Sport, I have made some amazing and inspirational new lifelong friends to share new memories with & help promote the importance of having the conversation with loved ones about your wishes for Organ Donation.

Forever grateful and can never give enough praise and thanks to all the incredible team at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Clydebank. If you want to see them in action, you must watch Life on the Line, a documentary on channel 5.