SIX-YEAR WAIT FOR A HEART

Little Daithi's indomitable resilience and campaign for new donor laws

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

A little boy has been on the heart transplant list for six years one of the longest waits for any child in the UK.

The proud family of Daithi Mac Gabhann paid tribute to his indomitable spirit, after June 1 marked six years on the waiting list.

He travels 200 miles from his home in Belfast to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for check-ups.

The hospital is the only centre in the UK capable of carrying out a heart transplant for a child with his condition. Daithi was born in 2016 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

But he has also spent periods too poorly to receive a new heart.

Dad Mairtin, 34, told the Mirror how Max Johnson, Keira Ball and our organ donor law crusade had inspired his son.

He said: "We are waiting for the gift of a new heart. The Freeman is the only centre that can take him because of the risks involved.

"Daithi is a wee hero and he keeps me going. If I cannot face the day, I get up and see his smile and know that he can do it.

"It has been a roller-coaster but he has such hope and resilience."

He told how they met Max and his family at the recent British Heart Foundation awards. "Max is doing well and the story of Max and Keira gives us hope," added Mairtin, a teacher. "They are our heroes, they've increased Daithi's chances of getting a heart. The Mirror has done so much, we are truly grateful."

CRUSADE

His son has driven a campaign which resulted in Daithi's Law being introduced in his native Northern Ireland last year.

Mairtin and his wife Seph, 28, who also have five-month-old twins Padraig and Declan, and son Cairbre, two, worked hard to introduce opt-out organ donor legislation in Northern Ireland.