Doctor Who Survived an Emergency Heart Transplant Becomes a Mother

Dr Sanjana Kochhar, a general practitioner from Liverpool, has welcomed her first baby nearly four years after an emergency heart transplant saved her life.

A Young Doctor Facing a Life-Threatening Illness

Kochhar began experiencing breathlessness and heart palpitations when she was 20 and studying to become a doctor.

Medical tests revealed serious damage to her heart. Over the following years, her condition became increasingly severe and doctors eventually determined that she would need a transplant.

Her Condition Suddenly Became Critical

In October 2022, Kochhar suffered multiple organ failure and was admitted to hospital in a critical condition.

She was placed on the urgent heart transplant list. Four weeks later, she received a donor heart.

She was discharged from hospital on Christmas Eve that year, beginning a long recovery and a new chapter in her life.

Four Years Later, a New Beginning

In August 2026, Kochhar and her husband, Paul, welcomed their daughter.

The birth marked a remarkable moment for someone who had once feared she would not survive. Kochhar has spoken openly about the emotional complexity of receiving a donor heart and the gratitude she feels toward the donor and their family.

A Bench That Marks Her Second Chance

The British Heart Foundation has dedicated a special living memorial bench to Kochhar in Otterspool Park in Liverpool.

The bench overlooks the River Mersey and is one of a number of memorials created to honour people who have survived cardiovascular disease.

Kochhar said the bench reminds her of the challenges she has overcome and hopes it will encourage people to talk more openly about heart disease and organ donation.

Using Her Experience to Help Others

As a doctor herself, Kochhar understands both sides of serious illness: the medical treatment and the emotional experience of being a patient.

She now hopes her story can encourage people to pay attention to heart health and to have conversations with their families about organ donation.

For Kochhar, the arrival of her daughter represents more than a new chapter in her family life. It is also a reminder of the second chance made possible by a donor heart.

Source: BBC North West Tonight and BBC News, September 29, 2026.