Mum thankful for a second chance

A Peterborough mum has urged families to think about organ donation after her son was given a second chance thanks to a heart transplant.

Gray son He a gr en( two) had been on the organ waiting list since Christmas Eve 2018, but this summer received the crucial heart transplant which has given him the chance of a normal life.

Before the transplant Grayson’s mum, Shannon, from Park Farm, hadbeenthinking ofhisfuneral- butnowshecan planChristmas, birthdaysand school in the future.

However, along with Grayson, her first thought was with the youngster who had sadly passed away before their family made the decision to donate the heart,

This week is Organ Donation Awareness Week, which runs from September 7 until September 13, and Shannon urged people to think about donating, saying her thoughts on the matter had changed as a result of whathadhappened to Grayson.

In the past five years, nine people in Peterborough have died while on waiting list for an organ, while five people in the ciy received a potentially life-saving donation.

A total of 13 people in Peterborough also donated organs for others.

Shannon said: “Before Grayson, I probably wouldn’t have donated my children’ s organs, but I’ve now signed up for all my children.

“Organs are no good to you when you have gone, but they could give someone else a chance–the best gift you can give is the gift of life.

“Being with Grayson at hospital really opened my eyes –seeing so manychildren waiting for a donation is so difficult.

“It is a very difficult decision for parents at what must be the hardest moment for them, but I hope donating something to help save a life could bring some comfort.

“I will be writing to the donor family soon – I have never met them and don’t know much about them, but they have given my baby a chance. I know they did not get another chance, and I am so grateful to them. I hopetheycanget some comfort from Grayson doing well.”

While the plan is for Grayson to come home this week, life will still be very different for Shannon, Grayson andthe rest of the family.

Shannon said: “We have to be extra cautious with Grayson. He is onim mu no suppressant drugs, which basically means he does not have an immune system, which helps his body to accept and not reject his new heart.

“He has to stay home for three months – we can’t take him to crowded places, and with COVID we have to be extra careful.

“But my other children are going back to school and nursery– we were told that it is fine asthatis what would normally happen if siblings of children had had a heart transplant. It is just going to become the new normal.

“It is going to be very surreal.”

The wait for the transplant had been a long one, with Grayson being moved to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital late last year.

Shannon said :“We came to Great Ormond Street Hospital in November because his heart was just too week.

“In January hehadaBerlin Heart put in to help his heart and take the pressure off. He breezed through that operation, and after a month in intensive care, he went up to Bear Ward.

“He became obsessed with Justin Bieber, and listened to his old album all the time.”

Angie Scales, paediatric lead nurse for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “It is wonderful news that Grayson has received his heart transplant. We wish him all the best with his recovery.

“Our thoughts are also with the family of his donor at this time, as they come to terms with the death of their loved one. Without them agreeing to organ donation Grayson’s life-saving operation could not have taken place.

“We are keeping Grayson, his family and the donor family in our thoughts and thank everyone who worked together to make this donation and transplant possible.

“For many children waiting for a heart transplant their only hope is that the parents of another child will say ‘yes’ to organ donation as their world is falling apart.

“Losing a child is a devastating but we know parents who agree to donate their child’s organs gain great comfort and pride from knowing that their child has saved the lives of other people, often young patients.

“Weurgeallparents to talk about organ donation, and not just for themselves but all members of the family, and what they would want if the time comes.

“Children can save lives too and there are young patients relying on a child to save their life.”

Grayson has benefitted from the organ donation scheme.

The smile that says it all, Grayson after his operation.