Little Beatrix Adamson-Archbold spent more than 15 months waiting in hospital for a heart transplant – her dad is now campaigning to put organ donor lessons on the national curriculum
A little girl who spent more than a year waiting for a critical heart transplant has delivered a letter to No 10 appealing for organ donation lessons in schools.
Beatrix Adamson-Archbold waited more than 15 months in hospital for her heart transplant, leading her devoted dad Terry Archbold to campaign for organ donor lessons to be part of the national curriculum. He decided to make the four-year-old’s letter a special delivery. Terry, a police officer from Burnopfield, Co Durham, has won the support of his local Labour MP Liz Twist. He said: “Bea had a great day out, everyone was so kind to her. We have spoken a great deal about organ donation and I decided to put down everything she said in a letter to the Prime Minister.”
“She knew he was the ‘boss of the country’ and we were going to his home.” Bea wrote to Sir Keir: “Hello, my name is Beatrix and I am 4 years old, what is your name? I will be 5 when it is my next birthday. I have a special heart, I had a heart transplant and it saved my life.
“When I grow up I want to be a Doctor and a Unicorn Rider all at the same time. I want to be a Doctor to help people. Helping people and other children like me is nice.
“I would like you to talk about special hearts and organs, I had a poorly heart but when I had a heart transplant it made me better. I want you to talk to my Dad about organs.
“He says the more we talk about it the more poorly people we can help save. Kids like me. I have a school book which teaches about organs, it is an Orgamite book and I want to give it to you as a present.”
Now thriving, Bea is a testament to the miracle of transplant surgery. Terry told of the costs to the NHS for her care prior to her op in June 2023 at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle; 30 days in paediatric intensive care, 425 days in the high dependency unit and fitting a mechanical heart to keep her alive cost more than £1m.
Terry, 47, believes school lessons about organ donation for children of all ages would raise awareness, increase the number of donors and reduce the cost burden on the NHS.
He was in London with Bea’s mum Cheryl Adamson, 42, a council worker, who collected a British Citizen Award for her work with Bea’s 500 Club, a group which supports good causes and people in need.
The couple have seen both sides of the transplant journey. In 2018, they lost their daughter Isabel (c) when she was stillborn and they donated her heart for medical research. Terry has also written to the PM.
He is being supported in his crusade by Sergio Petrucci, who won a Pride of Britain award for his work with the Red Sky Foundation, and Orgamites, the group which teaches about organ donation in schools.
The government is considering an independent review on the national curriculum with Professor Becky Francis and her expert panel giving their recommendations late last year.
Visit the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.