Heart swap Max is back at school
Brave lad’s return topped off with award
MAX Johnson has gone back to school, and picked up an award for his courage in fronting our Change the Law for Life campaign.
The nine-year-old had a “phased” return as he continues to recover from a longawaited heart transplant.
His day was topped off by being named Young Person of the Year for fighting to change organ donation laws.
Max, who had been “really looking forward” to getting back to class, said: “It was fantastic to get an award. I am so pleased the law is going to be changed.”
After almost a year away, he spent his first day back at school helping to raise money for Children in Need.
Alex Goodwin, principal at St Oswald’s CE Primary School, Worleston, Cheshire, had fundraised for The Sick Children’s Trust, which aided Max’s family while he was in Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.
WELCOME
The school had a welcome banner for Max, who wore his favourite onesie. He has a uniform ready for his return to normal classes this month. Mum Emma, 47, of Winsford, said: “It will be a year on December 8 since that dreadful night when Max was first rushed to hospital. Looking back on that will be tough. But he has come full circle.” Max had an enlarged heart, and waited more than seven months for a donor organ. He made a Mirror front-page appeal to Theresa May to back a law in which everyone in England and Ireland is a donor unless they opt out. She agreed to “Max’s Law” last month. On Friday the lad, who got his heart in August, went back to school. Mr Goodwin said: “It was like welcoming home one of the family.”
HEART OP boy Max Johnson’s first day back at school is an inspiring lesson in courage and perseverance.
He gets to start over again and thanks to the Daily Mirror’s victory with the Change the Law for Life campaign, we’re delighted there’ll be many more transplant kids for years to come following in his footsteps.