Eight-week-old receives new heart

Supporting

addBy Liat Graf

Charlie Douthwait, the youngest patient on the United Kingdom transplant waiting list, received a heart after a month-long, Europe-wide appeal, according to the BBC.

Charlie suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which required a transplant. The operation at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital lasted nine hours. His mother, Tracie Wright, described the results. “His skin color is amazing – he…[changed from being] so blue all the time to being so peachy and pink. Perfect.”

Ms. Wright thanked the donor family, saying that “they’ve given my baby a second chance at life and for that I’ll be forever grateful. It hasn’t quite sunk in that out there somewhere an amazing family gave us that amazing priceless most precious gift that could ever be given, in their darkest time they still thought of someone else…They’re such special people.”

About Charlie, Ms. Wright said that “he’s done well so far. We couldn’t be any more proud of him. He’s a real life hero, our little warrior.”

The BBC reported additionally stated that doctors hope Charlie will be healthy enough to leave the hospital in 2018.