From 12-Hour Heart Surgery to a Life-Saving Transplant: One Man's Extraordinary Journey

Victor Wiggins, a Manxman now living in Melbourne, has spent his life battling a rare heart condition. Born with transposition of the great arteries (T-GAD), he made history as the first child in the British Isles to survive a groundbreaking 12-hour operation. His extraordinary journey has now led to a book deal, with his memoir set for release in Australia next February.

In 1971, at just a few months old, Wiggins underwent a pioneering procedure at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital. Surgeons used the Mustard technique—an atrial switch method—to correct his life-threatening condition. The operation lasted 12 hours and marked the first successful surgery of its kind in the region.

His health improved dramatically, but decades later, his heart began to fail. In 2022, Wiggins was placed on the waiting list for a transplant. After 364 days of uncertainty, he finally received a donor heart, a surgery that once again transformed his life.

Now, Wiggins is preparing to share his story. He secured a publishing deal with Melbourne-based Wilkinson Publishing, and his book will launch in February—coinciding with the anniversary of his transplant. Before that, he plans to return to the Isle of Man for the TT races, where he hopes to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

Medical advancements since Wiggins' childhood have changed how T-GAD is treated. Today, the arterial switch operation (Jatene procedure) is the gold standard, allowing for anatomically correct circulation. Modern care also includes prenatal screening, early interventions for newborns, and long-term management of complications like pulmonary hypertension.

Wiggins' memoir will document his decades-long fight against a rare heart defect. The book's release in February comes exactly one year after his life-saving transplant. His return to the Isle of Man for the TT races will also mark a personal milestone—reconnecting with his roots after years of medical battles.