Brave Padiham teenager Hayley in good spirits after double lung transplant

A brave teenager from Padiham who underwent a double lung transplant just over a week ago could be taken out of intensive care in the next few days.

Despite having major life-saving surgery Hayley Barker (17) has been out of bed and walking at the specialist heart and lungs intensive care unit at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester.

And Hayley, who is already planning her 18th birthday party next year, has told her family she feels better than ever.

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Her aunt Kerry Yates, who visited the youngster over the weekend, said: “She’s doing smashing. She’s pushing herself a little bit more every day. When she was walking the other day she asked if she could do a few steps more.

“It’s funny because she’s not out breath like she was before the transplant.

“She said that she feels much better. They are pleased with her progress and are hoping to move her out of intensive care early this week. She had an epidural for pain relief and they’ve taken that out now.

“When I went to see her she was wide awake and chatting all the time. She was cracking jokes, she’s in really good spirits.

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“She said she can’t remember feeling as well as she does now and I think that just shows how bad she was beforehand. She says she feels great.”

Hayley has told her family that she wants to return to college and go jogging once she has recovered.

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