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A mum who worked as a florist for nearly two decades died from a lung condition which doctors believe may have been triggered by a sensitivity to pollen. Kay Robertson died aged 57 while waiting for a life-saving double lung transplant after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that causes lung tissue damage. Her daughter Rosalynd, who works as a diabetes specialist dietitian with NHS Lanarkshire, said her mum was a florist for almost 20 years. Doctors believed her condition may have been triggered by a sensitivity to the pollen she breathed in at work. A year on from Kay’s death, her family are urging Scots to join the Organ Donor Register and tell their families about their wish to give the gift of a transplant. Rosalynd said: “Our mum might still be with us if there had been more donors and a larger number of lungs available. “She was only 5ft 3ins and she lost a lot of weight during her illness, so her petite size made it difficult for the medics to find a match. “The lungs of a large man would have made the procedure much more complex, so it would not have been suitable. “After she joined the transplant list at the end of 2023, we all waited for that phone call saying there were organs available and that she would be blue-lighted to the transplant unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. But mum passed away in November last year before the call ever came.” Kay was said to be very active before becoming unwell, enjoying Zumba, dancing and long walks with her dog. But by October 2024 she was so ill she had to be admitted to hospital and was moved to the top of the transplant list just before her death. Rosalynd, 29, said: “Mum was diagnosed five years before she passed away and the doctors didn’t know for sure why she developed pulmonary fibrosis. “She worked with flowers for years but her allergy to pollen was mild and didn’t bother her. “Her brother also died from pulmonary fibrosis. He was an engineer on the rigs and they thought his illness could have been caused by the fumes he was breathing in from the environment there. “It may be that they both had the genetic component for pulmonary fibrosis. “This would mean they were both more susceptible to developing the disease which could have then been triggered by the environmental exposures like pollen and fumes. “I’d urge everyone to make a decision on donation and then tell their loved ones to ensure their wishes are honoured without any doubt. “Think of the lives that could be saved and the mums, dads, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and friends who wouldn’t need lose their loved ones too soon.” In Scotland, people aged 16 and over can choose to be an organ and tissue donor or to opt out on the Organ Donor Register. If you do nothing, it’s assumed you agree to be a donor if donation is possible after you pass away. You can register your donation decision and find out more at www.organdonation.scot or call 0300 123 2323. You can choose to donate some or all of these organs
