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"He had his first heart surgery at three days old” says heartbroken mom seeking donor for six-week-old son

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PHOTO: Magazine Features
PHOTO: Magazine Features

A desperate mom has launched an emotional plea to find a new heart for her baby who’s the youngest patient on the transplant waiting list.

Tracie Wright (30) and Steven Douthwaite (32), from Newcastle, UK, were hit during Tracie’s pregnancy with the devastating news that their baby, Charlie Douthwaite, had a rare heart defect.

"When we found out Charlie had hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) at his 20-week scan we were absolutely devastated,” says Tracie.

"We’d never even heard of it before so we didn't know what to think.

“We were in total shock, especially after having two other pregnancies without any complications. We thought we were safe.”

After considering an abortion, the parents-of-three were adamant their baby deserved a chance at life.

"We thought about a termination but we were adamant that Charlie deserved a chance to live and a chance to fight,” Tracie says.

When he was born, Charlie appeared to be doing well after a shunt was fitted in his heart at three days old.

But four days later, the baby suffered his first cardiac arrest and he’s been on life support ever since. At just six weeks old, the tot has already endured nine surgeries, more than 20 blood transfusions and two cardiac arrests.

"Charlie is such a little fighter, we are so proud of him. He’s endured more in such a short time than most adults could.

"He had his first heart surgery at just three days old. It was nine hours long but it felt like a lifetime. No words can describe how hard it is to watch your baby go in for surgery.”

Despite countless surgeries and doctors’ best efforts to mend their baby’s heart, a distraught Tracie and Steven were told three weeks ago Charlie desperately needs a new heart.

According to NHS Blood and Transplant, he’s currently the youngest patient waiting for an organ donor. Tracie has shared a series of heartbreaking photos of her beautiful baby covered in tubes, and surgical gauze in order to stress the importance of becoming an organ donor.

While Tracie desperately wants a new heart for her son, she has to try and accept the “sickening” reality that another child would need to die for her son to survive.

"Charlie is our whole world and no words could ever describe how incredibly grateful we would be to the family who agrees to let him have their baby's heart,” she says. “I hope other parents can understand that."

Source: Magazine Features

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