Every day, three people on the organ transplant waiting list die in the UK. TLC captures the courageous story of a Cystic Fibrosis sufferer as she awaits a double lung transplant while planning her dream wedding in an all-new special BREATHLESS BRIDE: DYING TO LIVE, premiering February 29 at 10/9c. Kirstie Mills has always known that her life would be short; born with Cystic Fibrosis, her name was added to the transplant waiting list in March 2011 after she was informed by doctors that without new lungs, she may only have six months to live. As her health rapidly declined, Kirstie had to decide whether to rest and wait for the lung transplant or to live her life, however long it would last.
The special follows Kirstie's extraordinary experience living each day by the transplant waiting list and the realities of constant pain and endless struggles. Even though she has always suffered from Cystic Fibrosis, she lived a very active life as a dance instructor and managed to remain optimistic while coping with the painful coughing, a constant stream of medicines and the threat of an early death.
Despite her prognosis, Kirstie is focused on her wedding and walking down the aisle with fiancé Stuart. Due to the never ending wait for the transplant call, Kirstie and Stuart have managed to plan their wedding with rather unique specifications. Keeping in mind that a matching pair of lungs may become available at any given time, the couple sought out a venue that offered flexible dates, as well as ordered fake flowers to ensure that she has that dream wedding no matter the circumstances. With far fewer donors in the world than are waiting on the transplant list, Kirstie and Stuart face the very real possibility that she may pass away before the wedding.
BREATHLESS BRIDE: DYING TO LIVE is produced by Special Edition Films for BBC.
About TLC
TLC is a global brand that celebrates extraordinary people and relatable life moments through innovative nonfiction programming. A top 10 cable network in key female demos, TLC has built successful franchises around the Cake Boss and Say Yes to the Dress brands. In 2011, TLC had 28 series averaging 1.0 million P2+ viewers or more including Sister Wives, My Strange Addiction, Extreme Couponing, Toddlers & Tiaras, NY Ink, 19 Kids and Counting, and What Not To Wear.
TLC is available in more than 99 million homes in the US and 75 million households in 34 countries internationally. A destination online, TLC.com offers in-depth fan sites, exclusive video content, and original editorial covering style, home, food, and more. Fans can also interact with TLC via On Demand services, on mobile platforms, including an iPhone App, and through social media such as Facebook or @TLC on Twitter. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA,DISCB, DISCK), the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 210 countries and territories.
