Dáithí Mac Gabhann’s family have announced that the Ballymurphy youngster is out of recovery and doing well following his heart surgery in England.
Dáithí arrived in Newcastle on Wednesday morning ahead of heart surgery which could allow him to get back on the waiting list for a transplant.
After a medical team in Newcastle discovered collateral blood vessels growing over time the difficult decision was taken to remove the six-year-old from the donor list as these complications made a transplant operation “too high risk”.
Read More:
- Dáithí to undergo surgery family hopes will get him back on heart transplant waiting list
- Daíthí lands in Newcastle for surgery as family hope for return to transplant waiting list
The decision came as landmark organ donation legislation Dáithí’s Law, came into effect in June after being stalled as a result of the political impasse at Stormont. This means all adults will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group.
The news also followed a ceremony at Belfast City Hall where Dáithí was granted the Freedom of Belfast.
A tweet posted by Donate4Dathi read, “Already sitting up and throwing jabs Dáithí is out of recovery and is doing well so far. We don’t have any more information than that at this time, but Dáithí being in a stable condition is all that matters right now.”
Already sitting up and throwing jabs…
— Donate4Dáithí (@Donate4Daithi) July 13, 2023
Dáithí is out of recovery and is doing well so far. We don’t have any more information than that at this time, but Dáithí being in a stable condition is all that matters right now. #Fighter pic.twitter.com/NO4xYRDriV
Dáithí was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and is increasingly reliant on a wheelchair and oxygen. The surgery was for a cardiac catheter which will hopefully allow him back active on the heart transplant waiting list. He has been on the heart transplant waiting list since 2018. On a social media post the family said “all positive thoughts and prayers welcome".
Following the surgery Dáithí's dad Máirtín Mac Gabhann said: "Our Dáithí is an absolute champ! Seriously, kids like him are made of pure steel. His incredible bravery gives us the strength we need, every single day and especially in days like the past few weeks.
"We're still waiting to hear if he's back active on the heart transplant list, but right now, all that matters is that he's stable and on his way home to Belfast. We are feeling a mix of relief, gratitude and nerves.
"Our little Freeman is coming home to Belfast and that's all that matters!"
