A CYSTIC fibrosis sufferer has celebrated a significant anniversary in unusual style.

Karen Mills, 28, of Monkwick, Colchester, did not expect to reach her 35th birthday without a lung transplant.

The ten-hour operation, last year, was successful and Karen has celebrated her “lungiversary”

by spreading the message about donating blood, bone marrow, tissue and organs.

Karen said: “To celebrate I had a party with friends and family, but also took a few moments to remember my donor angel who gave me the opportunity to have a second chance at life.

“There is no comparison to how I was before. I was basically sitting and doing very little with my time because I had no energy.

“Now I can’t sit still for more than half an hour because I feel I need to be doing things.”

Karen was born with cystic fibrosis, which meant her lungs and digestive system became clogged with thick sticky mucus.

In February last year she had a double lung transplant, thanks to an unknown donor.

A year on, Karen placed a flock of yellow felt ducks around Colchester Zoo, directing people who find them to the Little Yellow Duck Project.

The initiative was in memory of Karen’s friend Clare Cruikshank.

Clare, from Peterborough, a fellow cystic fibrosis patient, who died aged 26 in April last year.

Ducks are left in public places and a tag invites the finder to take their gift home to brighten their day and to visit thelittleyellowduckproject.

org to register where they found it.

It is hoped the stories and information will encourage the finders to pledge their own random act of kindness by registering to donate blood, bone marrow, organs and tissue.

Karen said:”I volunteer my time to help the founder, Emma, to log all the ducks registered on the website so that by using the world map, it can be seen just how far reaching the yellow ducks are spreading.

“I have left ducks in Scotland, Alton Towers, shopping centres, historic homes and basically anywhere I may be travelling to.”

As of Sunday, 2,650 ducks were logged in 58 different countries.

Karen, who is married to Glen, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, aged five, during health checks at primary school.

She has been able to return to work as an administrator at Colchester General Hospital virtually full time.