Support for Ollie bringing comfort

Support for Ollie bringing comfort

22 May 2019

THE parents of a seven month-old Kilcoo boy who needs a heart transplant have spoken about the “great comfort” they have received from other parents registering their children as organ donors.

Damien and Riona Grant went public about their baby son Ollie’s condition last week to highlight 

that children as well as adults can be registered on the organ donation list.

They are currently with their son and 23 month-old daughter, Aria, at Birmingham Children’s Hospital as the tot waits for a possible heart transplant.

Ollie has undergone two heart operations since his birth on October 1 last year and has also suffered a stroke. 

He was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome after a routine 20-week scan during his mother’s pregnancy.

Ollie has spent most of his young life in hospital. His heart is working at only 37% capacity and last week his consultant confirmed to his parents that he was on the organ donation list.

There are around 40 children currently waiting on a heart in the UK.

The Grants do not know how long Ollie will have to wait until a suitable one becomes available for him.

Like many other parents, the couple were not aware that children could be registered for organ donation.

They spoke to BBC Northern Ireland to urge more parents to register their children, although it was not a situation they would wish on any other parent.

“It’s a hard thing to think about. If you think about it from another aspect — of you being the person that had the child that needed the heart — you would be wanting people to consider it,” said Damien.

His wife, Riona, said: “We didn’t think that this would happen to us and nobody thinks it’s going to happen to them. If a child is to get sick, or an adult — it doesn’t matter who — if a heart or a liver or kidney, or whatever the case may be, is their only option, then what would they do?”

Damien said Ollie was currently holding his own, but that doctors were still concerned.

“With Ollie it is very difficult to tell if he is doing well or not, he is still smiling and laughing away, but doctors are concerned that his saturations have been up and down this week and he has been vomiting,” Damien told the Recorder.

“This is likely due to the heart failure because so far all other tests have been negative for any viruses.  

“However, it’s great to know our message is being heard, raising awareness of the lack of organs available and getting families to bring up the conversation in the house. 

“Reading through some of the online comments to the recent media coverage, it gives us great comfort knowing that so many people have signed up because of Ollie’s story and it will hopefully go on to save so many lives.”

One woman posted on Facebook after seeing the Grants’ appeal: “So proud of my 11 year-old daughter and 13 year-old son who saw this story, had a long meaningful conversation with their dad this evening and just both signed up on the NI organ donation register. 2 Brave and honourable children we have.”

• To learn about registration please visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk for information.