A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy who suffered heart failure before Christmas has now been given a new chance of life after receiving a heart transplant.
Jake Cathcart, from Moss Bank, was born in 2015 with a rare and undiagnosed heart condition, leading him to suffer two cardiac arrests and a respiratory arrest.
Since then he has become an inspiration for Team 1C, led by his parents and other parents who have children with cardiac issues at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, who have raised thousands to send surgeons abroad to help other children with heart defects.
Jake attends St Peter and Paul Primary School and was doing very well, until he took a turn in November and was rushed into Alder Hey Children's Hospital and later taken by helicopter to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
There his parents Claire and Neil were told their brave boy would need a heart transplant and was put on the organ donor register.
He was given a temporary external mechanical heart - called a Berlin Heart - which they decorated as Hiro from Thomas and Friends to make it less scary, while he awaited his big surgery.
The family have been separated ever since, with Claire and Neil taking turns to be with Jake in London and the other at home with their one-year-old daughter Daisy.
However their prayers have now been answered as Jake has successfully undergone heart transplant surgery and is doing well.
Not only that, but he donated his heart valves for further research into his condition to help others in the future.
His proud mum Claire, said: "We are beyond grateful that in their darkest moments, a family found the strength to say yes to organ donation.
"Thanks to this incredibly brave and selfless act, a superhero we never met, and the amazing team here at GOSH (and of course Hiro the Berlin Heart!); Jake has recently received his very special gift.
"Jake has also become a donor. The surgeons were able to recover two of Jake’s valves which have gone on to help other children.
"We will keep them all in our hearts every day.
"We’re just so grateful to everyone here at GOSH for everything they’ve done and to Dr Caroline Jones at Alder Hey for getting him here.
"It could very easily have been a different story.
"Our upmost gratitude goes to the donor family for their bravery and selflessness.
"We just want to give Jake and Daisy the happiest life possible now."
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