Every day, I said: ‘Good morning’ to my heart to help it settle in
Keira gift so special to Max
THE families who inspired the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign told their stories to almost 800 experts from around the UK yesterday.
Max Johnson, 11, his mum Emma and the parents of his heart donor Keira Ball were at the British Transplantation Society’s annual meeting.
Joe and Loanna Ball, of Barnstaple, Devon, were given a standing ovation as surgeons and nurses heard how their daughter saved Max’s life.
Max of Winsford, Cheshire, bravely spoke, telling of his plans to enter the World Transplant Games this August.
He added: “My feelings about my heart are mixed. The Ball family saved my life. But a nineyear-old girl, the beautiful Keira, died in a car crash... there will always be a dark cloud above us.
“I will make the most of my life. I will be competing in the World Transplant Games. Keira will be there with me.
“Every day, I said, ‘Good morning,’ to my heart to help it settle in – it is a very special part of me.”
Emma, 48, paid tribute to the team
who saved her son’s life and above all their “heroes”, Keira’s family.
“They gave the most priceless of gifts,’ she said. “Whilst we never met Keira, she will always be part of our family.”
Max, the poster boy for our campaign, told his story as Mirror front pages were displayed on a giant screen at Harrogate, Convention Centre, North Yorks.
His presentation included pictures of our first visit to him as he lay seriously ill in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, after six months on a waiting list.
And there were moving images of his first meeting with Joe and Loanna, and Keira’s siblings, Bradley, nine, Katelyn, 13, and Keely, 14.
Our stories were seen by Theresa May, who brought in a Mirror- backed opt- out regime in which everyone in England is assumed to be a donor when they die. Known as ‘Max and Keira’s Law’, it is set to receive Royal Assent.
As well as Max’s speech, Joe, 35, recalled the decision to donate Keira’s heart. He said: “I looked at Keira and knew she would say yes to donation.
Loanna, 34, added: “Meeting Max was magical, it helped my children. Here was living proof in the shape of a happy little boy. It has given us such comfort.”
Keira’s family gave the most priceless of gifts. Life itself. EMMA JOHNSON MAX’S MUM YESTERDAY