UPDATE: In a remarkable story of survival, Isabelle Rigby, the youngest recipient in Western Australia to receive a heart and double lung transplant, is sharing her journey just in time for Telethon 2025. Her inspiring tale highlights the urgent need for organ donation and the life-saving impact of community support.
Every morning, Tracey Newman listens for her 19-year-old daughter’s footsteps, a sound once feared lost forever. Isabelle, born at just 24 weeks and weighing a mere 695 grams, battled against overwhelming odds. “There wasn’t a day that wasn’t a fight,” Tracey recalled, reflecting on the 175 days spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital.
As the family faced the unimaginable, Isabelle endured a tracheostomy at just 1.2 kilograms, making her the smallest baby her surgeon had ever operated on. “I kept a bottle of Mumm champagne in the fridge for two years until she could say the word mum,” Tracey shared, revealing the emotional milestones along their journey. Today, every Mother’s Day, Isabelle gifts her mother a bottle of champagne, honoring their shared victories.
But just when hope seemed tangible, life dealt another devastating blow. At 14, Isabelle developed pulmonary hypertension, a serious condition that threatened her life. “We didn’t know a transplant would happen so quickly,” Tracey said. In a shocking turn, Isabelle was admitted to intensive care, where doctors declared she needed a heart and double lung transplant urgently.
After just three days on the donor list, the family received life-changing news: a donor had been found. “It was like the angels were looking over us,” Tracey recalled, but she also emphasized the bittersweet nature of the moment. “For me, it was joy, but on the other hand, there was a family grieving.”
The surgery lasted ten agonizing hours, and Isabelle emerged as a beacon of hope. She has since received ongoing care at Fiona Stanley Hospital, a beneficiary of Telethon, which has significantly impacted her recovery. “What West Australians give to help sick kids is incredible,” Tracey stated, underscoring the vital role of community support.
Isabelle’s journey has taken her beyond survival. In 2023, she proudly represented Australia at the World Transplant Games, winning bronze in the 100-meter sprint. “I can finally live a normal life,” she expressed, now filled with dreams of traveling around the world.
As Telethon 2025 approaches, Isabelle and her family hope to inspire others to recognize the profound importance of organ donation. “A donor is never ever forgotten,” Tracey said, reflecting on the heroism of those who give life. “They gave her back to me, to her family, and a future.”
This urgent appeal for awareness comes at a crucial time, as Telethon continues to raise funds for essential medical equipment and programs for sick kids in WA. The support of the community is vital in ensuring that stories like Isabelle’s continue to have happy endings.
