Tina B was one of the fortunate individuals among thousands of patients on the organ transplant waiting list, desperately waiting for the life-changing call that their match has been found. Through the selflessness of strangers, she received not one but three organs and asks you to consider being that selfless individual for others.
Cape Town, South Africa (15 May 2025) – She was told she wouldn’t live past the age of 10, but Tina B defied all the odds, including death and is living her best life to the fullest.
Tina, professionally known as Tina B Alive, was born with heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and other problems and is the longest living recipient of a heart and bilateral lung transplant.
“Yes, three organs,” she shared with Save7.
“I was born with a lot of things wrong. Specialists told my parents I wouldn’t live to see double digits. At age 14, I collapsed and was pronounced dead. I had a pacemaker fitted. I made it into my 20s, but I was on a steady decline from the age of 24.”
During that time, Tina was on oxygen and sleeping through most of the day. At 28, she was placed on a transplant list.
“I organised a massive 30th birthday, so that I could say goodbye to my family and friends. I was losing the battle.”
But a miracle happened. Three months after that birthday, Tina received a call that she would be receiving a heart and double-lung transplant to save her life.
Tina got her transplants and became the sixth person in South Africa to have had a heart and bilateral lung transplant. Since the success of her surgery, Tina has grabbed life with both hands, participating in sporting events such as the AmaShova Classic, the Cape Town Cycle Tour, and the Arnold Classic Africa Model Search.
She is today a motivational speaker who speaks life into the lives of others and supports terminally ill patients scheduled for surgery.
As part of Save7’s mission, a student-driven organisation that empowers organ donation in South Africa, Tina encourages more people to become organ donors.
“You could save someone like me,” Tina says.
Save7 was founded by a Stellenbosch medical student after witnessing patients dying due to the shortage of organ donors in South Africa.
All throughout our country, thousands await life-saving transplants each week. In response and with the hope of changing this, Save7 rolls out various campaigns and projects that spread awareness and encourage everyday people to become heroes by signing up to be organ donors.
To learn more, visit the Save7 website or Instagram page.
Sources: Save7
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