TEENAGE mum Lisa Beavan danced a jig at her dad's Irish bar to celebrate the second anniversary of the heart transplant that saved her life.

It was just two years to the night when Lisa became one of the youngest to receive a new heart at Wythenshawe Hospital.

And Lisa, 19, of Hall Carr, Rawtenstall, went to her dad Dave's Irish pub, O'Dwyers, in Blackburn Road, Haslingden, before carrying on partying.

Lisa was 16 and already a mum - daughter Kelly is now five - when she contracted cardiomyopathy, a life-threatening condition in which the heart is attacked by a virus. Her health rapidly deteriorated and doctors decided that a transplant was her only hope.

A donor heart became available and on March 8, 1995, Lisa, then only 17, became one of the hospital's youngest transplant recipients. Two years on she is now back to full health and recently was able to start work at MCL Footwear in Burnley Road East, Waterfoot.

Lisa, who used to attend Alder Grange High School, Rawtenstall, said: "I feel just fine again now, as fit as a fiddle. I am able to enjoy going out at weekends and doing all the normal things.

"In the summer I am going on holiday to Greece with my friends and I am really looking forward to that.''

Anne Stuart, manager of the New Heart - New Start Appeal, said: "Lisa is one of a rapidly growing number of men and women throughout the region whose new health and zest for life clearly demonstrates the real benefits of transplantation.''

The appeal's Mission 2000 project is raising money for operations over and above those funded by the Government and to develop a dedicated transplant research programme.

Anne added: "Unfortunately there are many others now on the waiting list for a transplant and our ability to give them this second chance depends entirely upon the availability of donor organs and the generosity of donor families.''

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