A mum battling two terminal illnesses has been given fresh hope, and is bringing it to others, with a breakthrough drugs trial.
Jo Smith, 41, has been in a medical catch-22 as treating one condition could mean the other kills her.
Her health has so badly worsened that doctors warn she could die at any time.
Now she is taking part in a trial of a drug not yet approved in the UK which could give her more time with son Rudey, eight.
Jo, from Exeter, Devon, was diagnosed eight years ago with pulmonary hypertension, a blood vessel disorder which meant she needed a heart and lung transplant.
Soon after, a scan showed she had lymphatic cancer, so she could not be put on the waiting list for a donor organ.
And due to her PH, cancer treatment could kill her.
She started trials for Sotatercept at Hammersmith hospital in West London this month, and has seen “marked improvement”. She said: “There may or may not be a direct medical benefit to myself, but this study may benefit others in future.”
