KEEN gardener Bernard Dunleavy sees everything coming up roses this weekend when he celebrates the third anniversary of his lifesaving heart transplant at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.

Bernard, from Bury, will be dining out in style with his wife Sarah, their three grown up children and grandson.

"Apart from the fact that I've picked up shingles my heart is now in good shape and I'm feeling just fine said the 59 year old grandfather and former college lecturer.

"Gardening is now one of my big intererests and at this time of the year it's wonderful watching everything starting to grow."

After a series of heart attacks Bernard was left critically ill and doctors decided that a transplant was the only option left.

A suitable donor heart became available and on April 28 1993 he became the hospital's 189th transplant recipient.

Ann Stuart the New Heart New Start Appeal Manager commented "Success stories like Bernard's emphasise the continuing demand for donor organs. Without the generosity of donor families transplant operations would simply not be possible."

The Appeal is currently setting its sights on its Mission 2000 fund raising targets to raise money for operations over and above those funded by the Government and to develop a dedicated transplant research programme.

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