The Crown Princess of Norway, Mette-Marit, who suffers from a serious respiratory illness, has successfully undergone a lung transplant, the Royal Palace announced this Wednesday (17).
“So far, the lung transplant has been successful,” said Arnt Fiane, director of the department of thoracic surgery at Oslo National Hospital.
The 52-year-old princess was diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that can require a delicate transplant when doctors assess that the patient has only one or two years to live.
The surgical intervention on Mette-Marit took place two days after a court in the Norwegian capital sentenced her son from a relationship prior to her marriage with Prince Haakon, Marius Borg Høiby, to four years in prison for two rapes.
In parallel with the scandal, the princess’s health condition has worsened considerably in recent months, which has forced her to reduce her official commitments.
“We are very pleased that everything has gone well so far,” said Are Holm, director of the pulmonology service at the National Hospital.
“Like all other newly transplanted patients, the Crown Princess will remain hospitalized (…) for several weeks. It is a standard procedure designed to adjust medication, manage possible complications and ensure rehabilitation,” he added.
The princess’s husband, Crown Prince Haakon, who will one day become king of Norway, will reduce his activity schedule to be by her side during the period, the Palace said.
