A nine-year-old boy who waited a world record eight years for a new heart has finally returned to school for the first time since his life-saving transplant.
The family of Daithi Mac Gabhann issued images from before and after his operation to demonstrate the extraordinary power of the 'gift of life'. The Belfast schoolboy and his dad, Mairtin, 36, joined the Mirror's crusade to 'Change the Law for Life' to the opt-out system introduced in England six years ago. In 2023, the Northern Irish assembly passed Dáithí's Law, which brought organ donation rules there in line with the rest of the UK.
Father's tribute to donor family
“Organ donation is the greatest gift of all – the gift of life,” said Máirtín. “I feel like Dáithí’s donor and their family have not just saved Dáithí’s life, but they have saved mine too. The hope I now have for his future is incredible and it’s all thanks to the gift of organ donation. Please have the conversation about organ donation.”
Mairtin, a teacher, described his 'rollercoaster of emotions' as his little boy was taken away for the life-saving surgery at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.
Inspiration from fellow campaigners
Mirror campaigner Max Johnson also received his new heart there from donor Keira Ball, who died in a tragic accident near her home in Barnstaple, Devon in 2017. Mairtin recalled: "We met Max and his family at the British Heart Foundation awards and have kept in touch. Max is doing well and the story of Max and Keira gave us hope. They are our heroes and increased Daithi's chances of getting a heart. The Mirror campaign has done so much to raise awareness. We are truly grateful for that."
Max's parents Emma and Paul, of Winsford, Cheshire, told how they had watched Daithi and his family work so hard to bring about law change in Northern Ireland. "Daithi's Law is a testament to their relentless campaigning and the beautiful personality of a wonderful little boy," they said. "We were indescribably fortunate in 2017, when the Ball family felt strongly that Keira would have wanted to donate her organs to save lives when she passed away. Please, have that conversation and share your organ donation wishes with your loved ones."
Messages of support and recovery
Dáithí has received an influx of messages of support throughout his recovery, including from Irish President Catherine Connolly who said: "My thoughts are also with the donor family. In the midst of their own grief, they gave you the precious gifts of health and hope." The Belfast schoolboy also received messages from boxer Tyson Fury, Liverpool defender Conor Bradley and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer throughout his recovery.
While Dáithí recovered from his transplant, his family stayed at Scott House, a free ‘Home from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust for families with a seriously ill child being treated at the Freeman, many on the Children’s Heart Unit. Dáithí’s Law is similar to England’s Organ Donation Deemed Consent Act, introduced in 2020 and also known as Max and Keira’s Law. Like Dáithí, Max had the support of his family thanks to Scott House. For information visit sickchildrenstrust.org.
