Brave Ella dies days after heart swap plea
Mum: No family should go through this
ELLA Dee has died aged eight while waiting for a transplant just days after her mum made a desperate plea for donors.
She had her life support switched off yesterday as her condition deteriorated beyond hope. Devastated mum Alice Holton, 27, called for an opt-out donor system to make more organs available, saying: “No child should suffer the pain she did. No family should go through this.”
The Mirror told on Friday how Ella, born with a heart defect, needed a second transplant. Her first was in 2015, but after an infection last month her body rejected it. A mechanical heart was fitted asshe awaited a replacement. Telling how she and Ella’s dad Darren, 29, had to switch off their beloved daughter’s life support, Alice said: “It was the hardest thing I’ve done. But she’s at peace now and out of pain.” The Middlesbrough mum wrote on Facebook: “Fly high my precious angel.” Backing the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign, Alice added: “Ella is proof there should be an opt-out system. Let’s get this sorted out.” The Mirror has set up a fund to help pay for Ella’s funeral. Donate at gofundme.com/funeralcosts-for-little-ella-dee. Back Change the Law for Life at mirror. co.uk/donor