Leann McKee, 19, was sitting in her hospital bed yesterday after the five-hour operation in which surgeons replaced her diseased organs with part of each man's lungs. Three teams of surgeons at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, worked simultaneously in three operating theatres. Two teams removed segments of lung from her father, David, 41, a businessman, and his brother, Robert, 37. The third transplanted them into Miss McKee. 

 The microbiology student, from Alloway, Ayrshire, is now planning to get married on her 21st birthday. Miss McKee, who goes to Paisley University, said: "I feel fine. "I am really grateful to my dad and uncle for what they did for me. We had to put three lives at risk for it to go ahead." 

 Last night, her father said: "When I see her like this it makes it all worthwhile. I never had any doubts about doing this. I think any father would do it for his child if he could. We had watched Leann fighting this for 18 years. Robert and I will be in pain for eight weeks but that doesn't matter, it has all been worth it." 

 Her uncle said: "When we were told this was a life-saving operation to help Leann I agreed straight away. I saw her afterwards looking so well and it made everything worth it." 

 Miss McKee was born with cystic fibrosis, which left her lungs diseased. She grew weaker over the last few years and was put on a waiting list for a transplant 18 months ago. 

 The operation was performed on Feb 24. Miss McKee said: "I feel completely normal now. I was on a ventilator at first and when I was taken off it I found I was breathing differently. I had always been quite well. I loved sports and riding but since I left school I have deteriorated quickly. I kept getting chest infection after chest infection. I tried to keep on going for as long as I could but at Christmas I took ill and that was it. I had to have oxygen to breathe. 

 "My fiance, Bradley Davidson, has been great but we couldn't do a lot of things other people did. We couldn't stay in the pub for long because of the smoke and we have missed out on quite a lot of parties this year. I am looking forward to the simple things and my independence. I couldn't even have a shower before because the steam affected my lungs. When I went shopping there had to be someone with me. Now I can go on my own." 

 The operation, which needed 40 experts including surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses, was the first of its kind at the Freeman Hospital. A few have been carried out by Prof Magdi Yacoub at Harefield Hospital, London. More than 50 such operations have been performed in America. 

 John Dark, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the Freeman Hospital, who was in charge of the operation, said: "It was really a team effort. The donors will each lose about 20 per cent of their lung function and Leann will gain around 70 per cent. But only a proportion of patients with cystic fibrosis are suitable for this type of operation."