Heart-transplant tot Hudson well enough to cheer on fund-raising gran
LOVELY SURPRISE FOR GROUP AFTER 26-MILE HOSPITAL WALK
A TODDLER who has spent most of his life in hospital is going from strength to strength since having a life-saving heart transplant.
Little Hudson Pirrie is 17 months old and had spent most of his life, including his first Christmas and birthday in hospital awaiting a transplant.
He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in August last year.
The life-threatening condition means the tot’s heart was too weak to pump blood around his tiny body.
However, in June, this year, the Burton youngster was given the news he had been waiting for and is going from strength to strength following his lifesaving transplant operation.
His grandmother, Mel Dixon, said: “He is doing really well. He’s isolating at home with his mummy and daddy.
“He attends the transplant clinic every week and so far they’re extremely pleased with him.
“He’s been reunited with his dog, Teddy, who has been living with us while he was in hospital.” And he is doing so well he was even able to go out and cheer on his grandmother and her friends as they took part in a gruelling 26-mile walk to raise money for the cardiac wards at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which helped Hudson.
Mel said: “We completed our marathon walk in nine hours and 37 minutes. We had an afternoon cream tea donated by Tesco in Burton at 17 miles in, which was a very welcome treat. “The icing on the cake was that Hudson was at the finish point as a huge surprise to greet us all. Very emotional and worth all the achy feet and blisters.
“Very proud of our achievements as a group of mature ladies.
“To date, with gift aid, we have raised over £7,300 and we know of a few outstanding donations so the figure is still rising. Our [Justgiving] page closes on August 31. We will present a cheque to the hospital early September.”
The group can still be sponsored by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/heartforhudson.