Richard Hudson today told how his life-saving heart and lung transplant operation has helped give him his independence for the first time ever.

Two years ago the 35-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer, who comes from Baildon, thought he would never see another Christmas much less fulfil his dream of living in his own home.

But today - almost two years after undergoing the successful transplant op - Richard is living in a canalside house at Dowley Gap near Bingley and hoping to return to work.

At one stage the former bar worker was on oxygen 24 hours a day and even found it difficult to get down the stairs at his mother Glenna's Baildon home but now he is cooking, shopping and cleaning for himself and walking several miles a day with his dog Flossie.

Richard said: "Having my own place and independence was something I always wanted but until I had the transplant it was never going to be a possibility because I always needed someone around in case something went wrong.

"I'd always been so reliant on other people and this time three years ago I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be able to live on my own or away from home. But I finally moved in a few months ago and absolutely love it.''

Richard, who had his transplant on March 23, 1996 and who returns to Papworth Hospital, in Middlesex, in April for his six-monthly check-up, added: "I've had no problems at all, physically I'm a lot fitter than I've ever been and I don't think I've ever felt as well in myself as I do now.

"I suffer with arthritis and don't think that would stand-up to a full-time job but it would be nice to go back to work part-time because everyone needs something to keep them occupied.''

The former Transplant Support Network treasurer, who last year competed in the British Transplant Games and who still keeps in contact with Josephine Nuttall - the Isle of Man woman who received his healthy heart two years ago next Monday - said the move had also enabled him to fully focus on the future.

He said: "I'll always be eternally grateful for what everyone did for me but I don't want to be reminded of what happened every single day. Living here means I can just get on with every day things and go for weeks on end without what happened two years ago even crossing my mind, which is why I can say my transplant's worked one hundred per cent.''

His mother said: "Of course I miss him but I still see quite a bit of Richard and for him to have his independence and be so happy is wonderful because a couple of years ago I couldn't even visualise him living. ''

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