ALL little west Belfast boy Dáithí MacGabhann wants for Christmas is a new heart.
The three-year-old, who was born with a congenital condition, loves toys and playing like any other child but a heart is still top of his Santa wish list.
Now Dáithí's family are sharing their hopes and dreams in a Christmas video, made by the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI), in a bid to raise awareness about organ donation.
They are also campaigning to have a soft opt-out system introduced, whereby everyone would automatically be considered an organ donor unless they say otherwise.
The video, part of the charity's Christmas Wishes Campaign, highlights the stories of people affected by heart and circulatory diseases.
Dad Máirtín said: “Other children are talking about what they want from Santa and when I asked Dáithí what he wanted he said, ‘a new heart’. It’s so difficult to hear that from your son.
“He knows he needs a new heart, but there is a shortage of organs in general and when you get to children it is smaller again. That is why we are putting our heart and soul into raising awareness about organ donation and calling for a soft opt-out system to be introduced.”
Boxing-mad Dáithí suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means he was essentially born with half a working heart.
He has had to endure numerous heart surgeries since he was born and now his only chance of life is a heart transplant.
Máirtín added: “We want to give Dáithí and other children like him the best chance possible.
“That’s why we’re backing the BHF NI’s Christmas Wishes Campaign so other families can be spared this heartbreak in the future.”
The introduction of soft opt-out donor organ in Wales in 2015 has resulted in family consent rates increasing from less than 49 per cent to 70 per cent.
Head of BHF NI Fearghal McKinney said: “Dáithí’s family has been nothing short of incredible in their ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of a soft opt-out system for organ donation being introduced here.
“We are lagging behind the rest of the UK and Ireland in this regard and although donation registrations are increasing there is sadly still a shortage of donors especially for children.
“We want to end this heartbreak that see many families missing a loved one this Christmas because they did not receive the gift of life. Our Christmas Wishes Campaign wants to spare other families the heartache of heart and circulatory conditions.
"We are funding pioneering, regenerative techniques to repair damaged hearts in the hope that, one day, children and adults with heart problems won’t need transplants."
:: To find out more about the BHF’s Christmas Wishes Campaign or to donate visit: www.bhf.org.uk/christmas. To sign the organ donation register: go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/register-your-details
