Parents thank donor family as daughter, four, starts school with new heart

A four-year-old girl is starting school with a new heart thanks to the "selfless decision" taken by the family of her organ donor, her mother has said.

Nicole Doherty said she feels "blessed" every single day that Evie is alive as she encouraged people to sign up to the organ donor register.

Evie Doherty spent so long in hospital waiting for a heart transplant that she could not remember what trees were when she was allowed to return home.

Evie Doherty can now enjoy playing outdoors
Evie Doherty can now enjoy playing outdoors

Her parents Nicole and Paul Doherty feared she would never come out of hospital.

Evie survived using a mechanical heart for more than seven months before receiving the transplant in early 2016 at the world-renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

The youngster suffered three strokes while using a Berlin Heart device while she was waiting for a new heart.

Evie Doherty playing with her toys back home
Evie Doherty playing with her toys back home

Now her mother has thanked the family of the organ donor, whose "selfless decision at a terrible time" means her four-year-old daughter can go to school like thousands of other children across the country.

She described her daughter as a "beautiful, smart, caring and cheeky little girl" and said it was "amazing" that her daughter's first day at school coincided with Organ Donation Week.

Nicole Doherty with her daughter Evie Doherty
Nicole Doherty with her daughter Evie Doherty

She told the Press Association: "I'm still in a bit of a dream about her starting school.

"When we were in hospital, we didn't even know if she was going to come out.

"All of these milestones that she is coming across and conquering, it's like a dream come true.

Nicole Doherty didn't know if her daughter Evie would ever leave hospital
Nicole Doherty didn't know if her daughter Evie would ever leave hospital

"We owe so much to the family of the donor - thank you will never be enough for the selfless incredible decision they made at their worst time.

"They have literally given Evie, and us, a life and you could never put into words how thankful you are for that.

"Every single day we feel blessed that they did that. Especially with her starting school.

Evie survived using a mechanical heart for more than seven months before receiving the transplant in early 2016
Evie survived using a mechanical heart for more than seven months before receiving the transplant in early 2016

"Evie is our only child and for your child to start school that had no health issues it is an emotional time but for somebody that you didn't know would even make school it feels like a miracle.

"I feel so incredibly blessed that she is able to do these normal things."

Evie Doherty's parents are glad to see their daughter go to school
Evie Doherty's parents are glad to see their daughter go to school

Mrs Doherty said she was "so so grateful" every single day Evie was alive, adding that the youngster was incredibly excited to start school.

"It will be really good for her to learn her ABCs and colours and numbers, obviously she was in hospital for nearly a year between the ages of two and three so academically she is behind her peers," Mrs Doherty added.

Nicole Doherty says every day Evie Doherty is alive is a gift
Nicole Doherty says every day Evie Doherty is alive is a gift

"When we came out of hospital she asked me what a tree was because she didn't know, she had been in hospital so long.

"There was pigeons in the park and she didn't know what they were.

"She knew stethoscope and echocardiogram but she didn't know what a tree was.

Evie Doherty is getting used to a normal life
Evie Doherty is getting used to a normal life

"She loves learning new things and taking them on board.

"She's really going to enjoy learning in general."

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