When photos of children holding red telephones were published in September 2023 for a project called The Call, they touched the heart of the nation. Taken by award-winning photographer Debbie Todd, who campaigns to raise awareness of organ donation, the images showed the raw reality of the nail-biting wait for a transplant — a phone call that determines whether an organ is available, and whether a child lives or dies.
Origin of the project
Debbie's idea for The Call came after visiting Beatrix Archbold in hospital and seeing the red phone on the ward that only rings when an organ donor has been found. At the time, the two-year-old from County Durham was in need of a new heart. The resulting images were shown in all major cities, thanks to the Red Sky Foundation charity.
Debbie, who lives in Consett, County Durham, said: "Seeing that red phone in the ward really struck a chord with me, it was such a powerful reminder of how important the gift of life is and how it all depends on a single phone call."
Grace and Evie's stories
Grace Westwood, six, from Birmingham, was the first patient in the UK to be fitted with a mobile heart, which allowed her to leave the ward. But she spent more than two years in hospital before receiving a donor heart. Her dad Darren said: "She is thriving now. She loves drawing, crafts and swimming and going to the beach."
Evie Green, seven, from Middlesbrough, spent 470 days waiting for a new heart at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. She received one in July 2024 and was able to be a flower girl at the wedding of her mum's best friend last year. Her mum Chloe said: "We were watching her dying before that call came. It came with a lot of guilt. We were waiting for another family to do an 'amazing' thing, and that appreciation never fades. If I could speak to her donor family, I would just be forever thanking them."
Ava and Teddy's ongoing battles
Ava Murray, seven, from Peterhead, Scotland, was on oxygen 24 hours a day as she waited for a double lung transplant, aged just four, due to a genetic lung disorder. She received her new lungs in 2024, but last October doctors discovered she is now in chronic rejection. Ava and her mum Tamara travel every fortnight to Newcastle for treatment to preserve her lung function. Tamara says: "She is now at primary school and is really enjoying it."
Teddy Nicholls, four, from Cambridgeshire, was born with a rare severe inherited liver condition called neonatal hemochromatosis. He had his first liver transplant at just ten weeks old. At the time of The Call project, he was waiting for his second transplant, which he had in December 2023 when his mother Emma donated part of her own liver. He is now waiting for a third transplant.
Milestones for Beatrix, Phoebe, Daithi, and Freddie
Beatrix Archbold, five, from County Durham, received a life-saving heart transplant aged two in July 2023, after spending 14 months on a mechanical heart machine at Freeman Hospital. She has since celebrated milestones like turning on Christmas lights and was a firefighter for a day with local emergency services. She completed the Mini Great North Run this month for the third time to raise awareness for organ donation. Her dad Terry, 49, said: "It was a dream for her to be able to do something like this. It was very emotional watching her cross the finish line."
Phoebe Elliston, five, from Wigan, Lancs., was diagnosed with biliary atresia and had a liver transplant when she was ten months old, after her grandma donated part of her own liver. Since then, she has had ongoing operations but lives a normal life. She took part in the transplant games in August in Sheffield and won two bronze medals for the obstacle race and 25 metres. Her mum Lauren said: "When I look at photos of mum and Phoebe together, it's like looking at this special bond. She's just started year one at school and she's absolutely loving it."
Daithi Mac Gabhann, nine, from Ballymurphy, Northern Ireland, received his life-saving heart transplant in July this year, ending an eight-year wait. He was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. His dad Mairtin said it was "emotional" to have him back home. In 2023, a law was introduced in Northern Ireland making people automatically potential organ donors unless they opt out. It was named Daithi's Law after the family campaigned for years.
Freddie Wiles, six, from Preston, Lancs., had his heart transplant just before Christmas in 2023 after being diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy. He spent the festive period in intensive care but was excited to spend his first proper Christmas at home in 2024. His mum said: "The wait for the call was the worst time of our lives. We never knew if it would come in time and we were always aware there was a chance Freddie may not make it while he waited. Every time the phone rang our hearts would stop. Now he's doing really well. Now we can't get him to stop eating and he's enjoying food. He's been able to go to school and he loves it."
For more information about organ donation visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk
