‘We know that saying thank you will never be enough’
A schoolgirl who underwent a heart transplant at the age of 12 was moved to tears after learning about the donor who gave her the gift of life.
Kayleigh Llewellyn wrote an emotional letter to the parents of her donor to pay tribute to their daughter for saving her life after she was diagnosed with a form of heart disease called cardiomyopathy.
The 13-year-old, from Earl Street, in Seaham, underwent the heart transplant on November 24, 2019, at the Freeman Hospital’s Children’s Heart Unit in Newcastle.
Since then, Kayleigh has made huge steps on her road to recovery and wanted to share her story with the donor family.
Just after Christmas, Kayleigh received the reply she had been hoping for when the parents of the donor sent a letter along with photographs of their 19-yearold daughter.
Kayleigh’s parents Shaun Sidney and Sonia Llewellyn, were left ‘blown away’ by the response.
Shaun said: "The family were so happy to know that Kayleigh was doing well and coming on leaps and bounds.
"They said how alike the donor and Kayleigh are as they both have a passion for jewellery. The donor also loved art and sport like Kayleigh.
"Kayleigh was in tears and we can’t believe it. It’s not something you expect.
"For them to send us a selection
of photos and letters is absolutely amazing when things are still so raw.”
The donor family also sent Kayleigh a precious Pandora ring that was one of their daughter’s favourites.
"Kayleigh now wears the ring around her neck on a chain,” Shaun said. "She constantly wears it.
"The family sent 10 to 12 photos of the donor and Kayleigh picked her favourite photo and put it in a frame on her bedside table.”
Kayleigh has sent a letter
back to the family through the transplant clinic at the Freeman Hospital along with one of her own drawings – a heart being held by a pair of hands.
The family hope they will eventually be able to meet the donor parents in person.
Dad Shaun said: "It is absolutely a massive step and something we were not expecting. We would love to meet them this year to say thank you – although we know that thank you will never be enough.”