Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit awaits lung transplant after severe health decline

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit faces a critical health challenge, having been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant following a severe decline in her condition. Doctors at Oslo University Hospital stated that without the surgery, she likely has only about a year to live.

The 52-year-old princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. This chronic lung disease causes scarring, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. While the hospital had indicated in December that a transplant might be necessary, she was not yet on the Norwegian recipient list. However, recent months have seen a "dramatic deterioration" in her health, prompting the urgent medical assessment.

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In the last few months, there has been a 'dramatic deterioration' in Mette-Marit's condition, meaning she has only about a year left to live.

Professor Are Holm of Oslo University Hospital explained the gravity of the situation at a press conference. "This is a major and demanding operation," he said. "To make a decision about it, you must be sick enough, while at the same time you must be healthy enough to withstand both the operation and the difficult recovery period."

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This is a major and demanding operation. To make a decision about it, you must be sick enough, while at the same time you must be healthy enough to withstand both the operation and the difficult recovery period.

The Royal Palace has described Mette-Marit's condition as "life-threatening." In response, Crown Prince Haakon cut short an official visit to Japan to return home. Their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, has also returned from her studies in Australia to be with her mother. The couple has postponed the celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary, originally planned for August.

Oslo University Hospital performs between 30 and 35 lung transplants annually. Princess Mette-Marit joins the existing waiting list like any other patient. The hospital noted that the current waiting list is short. Success depends on several factors, including the organ's size, blood type compatibility, and the absence of recipient antibodies against the donor tissue. According to hospital data, up to 90% of lung transplant patients in Norway survive the first year, with approximately 55% alive after 10 years.

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It is about giving the right organ to the right person. This means that many factors must align to increase the chances of success.