Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been discharged from hospital following her lung transplant, the Palace announced on Tuesday. Her condition is “as good as can be expected”, her medic said, and her rehabilitation will be closely watched over the next six months.
She is not expected to carry out official engagements during the rehabilitation period. Her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, will continue to carry out official engagements during this period but will make some adjustments to spend time with the Crown Princess.
“The Crown Princess’s condition is as good as can be expected under the circumstances,” says Are Holm, Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet. Over the next six months, the Crown Princess will undergo physical rehabilitation and be closely monitored for possible complications, including rejection and infections.”
Mette-Marit, 52, was diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis that causes breathing difficulties in 2018 and last month it was announced that she required a lung transplant as her condition had deteriorated.
She had been placed on the transplant list and underwent surgery within two weeks.
The Crown Princess has released a statement expressing her gratitude to organ donors, as well as thanking her family and friends for supporting her through this difficult period.
She said: “I am deeply grateful. First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who make the choice to donate organs. Through organ donation, I have been given the gift of life. Words fail me as I try to express how profoundly grateful and humbled I am.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has stood by me throughout this long journey: my family, the doctors, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals, as well as all those who make an invaluable contribution to the Norwegian health service every day.
“I would like to send a special greeting to my friends living with fibrosis. You have been extraordinary during one of the most demanding periods of my life. Living with fibrosis is not for the faint-hearted, and not a day goes by without me thinking about how strong you are.
“I deeply appreciate the care and consideration I have received from so many people across Norway during my illness. It has given me strength when I needed it the most. Thank you so very much.”
Her husband added: “It is a great relief to have the Crown Princess back home from hospital. We are all very happy that the initial phase has gone as well as it has. We are also immensely impressed by Oslo University Hospital.
“Although we know that there is a long period of recovery ahead of us, and that complications may arise, it feels very good to have come this far,” states His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
