Mum of Peterborough girl who needs heart transplant urges families to discuss organ donation

Four-year-old Georgia Kirchin, from Dogsthorpe will need the life saving operation within the next two years after she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition when she was less than one week old.

She has critical aortic stenosis - meaning valves in her heart had narrowed, causing blood to struggle to get round her body.

Sadly, for Georgina to have the crucial procedure, she will need a heart from another child, which means that youngster will have lost their life.

While the law was changed recently to mean that adults will donate their organs if able unless they opt out, for children it is still down to parents.

Now Georgia’s mum, Jodie is urging families to discuss organ donation should the worst happen to their child.

Jodie (32) said: “For myself, I have always wanted to help others, I signed up to donate and gave blood, but I never thought about what would happen for my children until Georgia .

“The law helps for adults, but it does not for children, and there are still children dying while on the organ transplant list.

“When children die, it can often, sadly, be very quickly, and parents might not be prepared. They are in their absolute worst nightmare, in shock and a very dark place. It can be difficult because they are understandably so emotional, so they can say no to organ donation.

“People need to be prepared and think and talk about it, in case it does happen. You don’t want to think about it for the first time when it does happen.

“What bigger thing can you do than save someone’s life?

“You never know what is going to happen next.

“I’m not religious, but I pray to someone that Georgia can get her heart.

“Of course you don’t want any child to die. But we have spoken to people who have donated children’s organs, and they have said they feel comfort in helping to save someone’s life.

“Georgia’s life is in someone elses hands.”

The Peterborough Telegraph has covered the story of two other youngsters who needed a heart transplant - and have since had the operation.

Benjamin Hardy, from Orton Goldhay, had his transplant in Newcastle in 2018, less than a year after he was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

MORE: VIDEO: Baby Benjamin’s new heart miracle

Meanwhile, last year Grayson Heagren was given a new heart at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

MORE: Peterborough mum’s joy mixed with heartbreak as son has second chance of life thanks to heart transplant

Grayson was given extra time when doctors were able to use a ‘mechanical heart’ - but that will not be an option for Georgia.

Jodie said: “We have followed Grayson’s story, and we are hoping we can get that call. Because of her condition, doctors won’t be able to use a mechanical heart, so it might be quite quick.”

For more information about organ donation, visit https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/