Florist’s fatal lung condition may have been triggered by pollen, say family

The family of a florist who died from a lung condition said inhaling pollen during her job may have triggered the illness, as they made a call for more organ donors.

Kay Robertson died aged 57 last year while awaiting a double lung transplant, having been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

Her daughter Rosalynd Robertson, who works as a diabetes specialist dietitian with NHS Lanarkshire, said her mother’s 20-year career as a florist may have triggered the condition due to exposure to pollen.

“Our mum might still be with us if there had been more donors and a larger number of lungs available,” said Ms Robertson, who lives in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.

“She was only 5ft 3in 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 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 Robertson was very active before she died, taking zumba and cheerleading classes and enjoying long walks with her dog.

Her daughter, 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.

There are mutations in genes that are linked to the disease and can run in families, and Ms Robertson added: “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.”

In Scotland, people aged 16 and over can choose to be an organ and tissue donor, or opt out, on the Organ Donor Register.