Just over three months since her transplant surgery, she is now growing in strength each day and walking has helped with her recovery.
A Co Down woman says she has been given the ‘amazing gift of life’ having recently undergone a heart transplant.
Valerie McIlveen from Donaghadee lived with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) for 20 years after being diagnosed at the age of 46. DCM is a disease of your heart muscle where your heart chambers become enlarged and your heart’s muscle wall becomes thinner and weaker.
The 66-year-old golfer and former Ladies Captain of Donaghadee Golf Club said: “I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in 2006 and because of my deteriorating condition, I was assessed in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne in September 2025.
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“After being accepted onto the Urgent Heart Transplant List I was admitted to the Pre-Transplant Unit at the Freeman Hospital. Just four weeks after admission, I was in the fortunate position to receive an offer of a donor heart last November.”
Just over three months since Valerie’s transplant surgery, she is now growing in strength each day and walking has helped with her recovery.
Now Valerie is on a mission for Heart Month in February to complete the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Walk for Hearts’ challenge. She is walking a mile a day throughout this month to raise much-needed funds for BHF’s research into cardiovascular disease.
Valerie, who has already raised over £1,400 to help fund research into cardiovascular disease, said: “I’m feeling fit enough to take up the BHF challenge to walk one mile per day in the month of February. I’m so thankful to everyone who is supporting me in my recovery.
“The journey to regaining full recovery will be long, but each month brings increased quality of life. I would also like to highlight the huge nationwide need for organ donation.
“During my time spent in the Pre Transplant Unit, I met and became friends with other patients who have been waiting years for a heart transplant. I would therefore like to encourage everyone to seriously consider becoming organ donors and having the necessary conversation with their loved ones.”
Valerie added: “I am so grateful for the amazing gift of life offered to me by the donor’s family.”
Fearghal McKinney, Head of BHF Northern Ireland, said: “Valerie’s strength and resilience throughout the last number of months is really inspirational. We’re so thankful for her fundraising support of BHF’s Walk for Hearts challenge during Heart Month and for raising vital awareness of the urgency of cardiovascular disease and the need for organ donors.
“If you are one of the 230,000 people in Northern Ireland living with cardiovascular disease and you are able to exercise, walking could be especially helpful, as it is low impact and you can build up slowly at a pace that’s suitable for you. Valerie was checked by medical professionals and deemed well enough for this challenge and it’s important to speak with your own doctor for personalised advice.”
Fearghal added: “Every three minutes, someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease. Through our incredible supporters like Valerie, British Heart Foundation can power research that will enable people to live longer, healthier lives.”
To support Valerie, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/valerie-mcilveen-1#sharePage. Participants can sign up for ‘Walk for Hearts’ until February 14th. To find out more, visit www.bhf.org.uk/walkforhearts.
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