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Youngest baby on UK transplant waiting list gets new heart Youngest baby on UK transplant waiting list gets new heart
(35 minutes later)
The youngest patient on the UK’s transplant waiting list has had a life-saving heart operation.The youngest patient on the UK’s transplant waiting list has had a life-saving heart operation.
A Europe-wide appeal had been launched for Charlie Douthwaite, an eight-week-old baby born with half a heart. A Europe-wide appeal had been launched for Charlie Douthwaite, an eight-week-old baby born with half a heart. The child had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition that leaves the left side of the organ underdeveloped.
The child suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition that leaves the left side of the organ underdeveloped.
Surgeons performed a nine-hour operation at Newcastle’s Freeman hospital after a donor heart was found within weeks, rather than the months or even years it can take.Surgeons performed a nine-hour operation at Newcastle’s Freeman hospital after a donor heart was found within weeks, rather than the months or even years it can take.
His mother, Tracie Waite, thanked the donor family for the “priceless, most precious gift that could ever be given.”His mother, Tracie Waite, thanked the donor family for the “priceless, most precious gift that could ever be given.”
“They gave our baby a second chance at life and for that I’ll be forever grateful,” said Waite, in a Facebook post. “It felt like a miracle.” “They gave our baby a second chance at life and for that I’ll be forever grateful,” Waite said in a Facebook post. “It felt like a miracle.”
Not everyone born with Douthwaite’s condition undergoes a transplant. Only those with complex defects or weakened hearts due to surgery need one.Not everyone born with Douthwaite’s condition undergoes a transplant. Only those with complex defects or weakened hearts due to surgery need one.
His heart problem was spotted during a routine 20-week pregnancy checkup and doctors performed open heart surgery on the youngster when he was just three days old. Charlie’s heart problem was spotted during a routine 20-week pregnancy checkup and doctors performed open heart surgery on him when he was three days old.
However, he went into cardiac arrest on two occasions after the procedure, despite initially appearing to be recovering well. Following a total of 11 operations, doctors deemed that he needed a new heart. He went into cardiac arrest on two occasions after the procedure, despite initially having appeared to be recovering well. After a total of 11 operations, doctors deemed that he needed a new heart.
Dr Zdenka Reinhardt, a cardiologist at the Freeman hospital, told the BBC he was “extremely lucky [to be alive] considering his condition and his size”.Dr Zdenka Reinhardt, a cardiologist at the Freeman hospital, told the BBC he was “extremely lucky [to be alive] considering his condition and his size”.
Douthwaite was born weighing 2.9kg (6lb 5oz) at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. He is expected to be able to leave hospital in the new year. Charlie was born weighing 2.9kg (6lb 5oz) at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. He is expected to be able to leave hospital in the new year.
There are around 6,500 people on the UK transplant waiting list at the moment. Last year, nearly 500 people died while waiting for a transplant. Just like all other babies who receive a heart transplant, Charlie will have to remain on medication for his whole life to prevent his body potentially rejecting the organ.
There are around 6,500 people on the UK transplant waiting list at the moment. Last year nearly 500 people died while waiting for a transplant.
Because of the lack of available hearts, which need to be of the appropriate size and blood type, it is often impossible to have a heart transplant as soon as it is required.Because of the lack of available hearts, which need to be of the appropriate size and blood type, it is often impossible to have a heart transplant as soon as it is required.
Just like all other babies who receive a heart transplant, Douthwaite will have to remain on medication for his entire life to prevent his body potentially rejecting the new organ.
There were more NHS-facilitated transplants than ever before last year. However, the waiting list has nearly trebled in a decade.There were more NHS-facilitated transplants than ever before last year. However, the waiting list has nearly trebled in a decade.
The government is set to begin a consultation on moving England to an opt-out system for organ donation, rather than the current opt-in system. This will assume everyone is a donor unless they explicitly reject the idea.The government is set to begin a consultation on moving England to an opt-out system for organ donation, rather than the current opt-in system. This will assume everyone is a donor unless they explicitly reject the idea.