Girl enjoys first day at school thanks to the gift of life from her ‘ guardian angel’

Miracle... Imogen in her uniform and, inset, in hospital

BRITAIN’S youngest child to have a double lung transplant has defied the odds by taking her first steps to school – but she was not doing it alone.

Four- year- old Imogen Bolton was watched over not only by her tearful parents as she made the brave walk but also, they say, by her “guardian angel” Theo who lives inside her.

Baby Theo Ormandi was just 41 days old when he died after suddenly becoming ill, and his parents donated his organs, saving Imogen’s life.

Imogen was born with a killer genetic condition called aveola capillary dysplasia, meaning her lungs did not form properly.

Without having a transplant, the condition kills within weeks.

But thanks to

Theo’s gift, the pair created history when

Imogen had the transplant aged just five and a half months.

Almost five years later, Jason and

Hayley Bolton watched as their daughter entered the school gates near their home in Brighton.

Hayley, 34, said: “We were told Imogen would never make her first birthday so to see her walk into school was indescribable.

“She knows this is for Theo too, like all the milestones we celebrate.

“Every child is special but we tell Imogen there is a special little boy that lives inside her.

“We call her 16cm chest scar the magic scar. She knows her lungs were given to her by Theo who watches over her and she is very aware of him and talks about him.

“Imogen knows he gave her the gift of life, which is priceless. Before school she was adamant she wasn’t going to make any friends which was heartbreaking. She kept saying nobody will like me, but we got her dressed in her uniform on Monday morning and she was excited.

“I was an emotional wreck. Later that day when we picked her up she grabbed me and started crying and she said she missed me.

“I told her I missed her too but that I bet she made loads of friends. She replied saying she had the best day ever and made hundreds of friends.

“There are no words to describe that feeling.” Hayley – also a mum to Aliessia, 15 and Sonny, 12 – knows none of this would have been possible without Theo whose tiny lungs were small enough for Imogen.

She has since written to his parents – who don’t want to be named – several times to thank them and remember him on the anniversary of the surgery each year.

Hayley said: “Writing a letter to them was incredibly difficult.

“I’ve told Theo’s parents just how grateful we are. I often send photos of Imogen and keep them updated on the things we do for Theo like celebrating his birthday and the transplant anniversary. I just hope they will know we will never forget him and we talk about him so much.”

After the transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital in May 2016, Theo’s parents wrote: “We search for our son’s presence everywhere and every day. Now we have known one of the brightest places in Imogen.”

Pride... Imogen with her family