A breath of gratitude: transplant patient gifts unique origami lungs to consultant

A patient with cystic fibrosis (CF), who had a lung transplant almost 10 years ago, has gifted an extraordinary replica pair of lungs made using origami, to his Harefield Hospital consultant.

Joe Russell, 47, spent two years designing the pattern. With help from Vicky Gerovasili, his lung transplant consultant, Joe was able to ensure every detail from the trachea to the bronchi was accurate, and true to size.

Joe learned origami when he was eight, and used the Japanese art of paper folding to support his transplant recovery. He describes it as therapy: “It buoys me up when I'm down, it is calming when I'm agitated and it focuses my mind away from my struggles.”

Joe was diagnosed with CF, a rare genetic condition that affects breathing and digestion, when he was two. He says: “Compared with some people I had it relatively easy. But in my 20s my lung function dropped dramatically, and I was transferred to the care of Royal Brompton Hospital.”

Joe received treatment for his symptoms and responded well. But in his 30s, Joe’s condition worsened, and his clinical team advised he needed new lungs if he were to survive.

“It was shocking how quickly I went from being mobile to being on oxygen,” Joe says. “But fortunately for me, once all the assessments were done, I was only on the transplant list for a miraculous ten days. The average in the UK is 18 months. I couldn’t predict the future, but that’s probably one of the reasons I’m alive, because it was so quick.”

On Christmas Eve in 2015, Joe received his new lungs. He was discharged from Harefield Hospital after three weeks. He says: “After my transplant I felt transformed. The change was so dramatic. I pushed myself hard with exercise, but learned to pare back. I just felt this joy of being alive.”

Joe created the replica origami lungs to show his gratitude to anyone who has ever looked after him, and his donor and their family, and to raise awareness for the importance of organ donation.

Vicky has been Joe’s consultant since 2019. She sees him regularly in check-up clinics. She says: “Soon after I met Joe, Covid happened. It was a challenging time because anxiety levels were high for patients who were vulnerable to the disease, including Joe. I remember navigating the uncertainties with him, and we formed a bond. 

“When Joe presented the origami lungs to me, I was emotional – I had never seen something so perfect. I couldn't believe how much time he had spent on the design and how real they looked. For me, the origami lungs are a physical manifestation of what a lung transplant can give to someone – they represent a life being lived. Every time I see them, I think of Joe. And they give meaning to what I do and why I come to work every day.”

Although Joe gifted the origami lungs to Vicky, she has decided to loan them to Harefield to be framed for display in the transplant unit of the hospital.

Harefield Hospital’s patients include some of the longest-surviving transplant recipients in the country. There are around 500 transplant patients in the outpatient clinic at Harefield, and 200 have cystic fibrosis. Many of their lives have been transformed by transplant.

Joe is passionate about spreading the call for organ donation. He says: “I and so many others wouldn’t be here without people signing up to be organ donors and, crucially, letting their families know their wishes.

“I'm incredibly fortunate to have exchanged letters with my donor's family. I wrote to them expressing my thanks and letting them know that I would always look after these lungs because they are so precious. I didn't expect anything back, but they did write back. We’ve exchanged some lovely letters. Because of that level of generosity, I will always honour this gift.”

Recently, Joe teamed up with the arts team at Royal Brompton and Harefield to run origami workshops for patients, visitors and staff. Joe guided participants to create paper butterflies and flowers. These were gathered to create an installation at each hospital site and were displayed to symbolise transformation, hope and the importance of connection for wellbeing.