A Belfast child who has been the brave face and soul of a law changing campaign, is five years on the transplant list today.
Little Dáithí Mac Gabhann, has been waiting for the gift of life through a heart transplant since he was a baby after being born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Dáithí's father Mairtin said while the last number of years have had their highs and lows, they are spending Thursday feeling grateful for the journey they have had.
Read more: Dáithí Mac Gabhann becomes youngest ever recipient of highest Belfast honour
"We are actually celebrating Dáithí being five years on the list," he added.
"And the reason that we are celebrating is because five years ago, when we found out he was placed on the list, was also the best day of our lives because it meant that there was hope for our son.
"What we are doing now, five years on, is celebrating five years of life, five years of precious memories, five years of Dáithí making a massive impact on the world. And five years of hope and gratitude.
"We are so grateful that Dáithí is still with us. We are so grateful that he has been stable for most of the journey, while he fights for his life. That is why this is a day of celebration.
"It would be easy to be sad about waiting five years for the gift of life, but we are happy that he has been able to live life to the absolute fullest. And what a life he has!
"He makes us so proud every single day and his personality is totally infectious. We are extremely proud of everything he has achieved with our campaign of awareness, creating more hope.
"It is totally fitting that after all those years of ups and downs and arounds on this roller coaster, the tears, the hardship, we celebrate this day. It is fitting that on this day of Dáithí being five years on the list for the gift of life, that Dáithí's Law comes into effect, that will hopefully save many lives in the years to come."
From today, June 1, all adults in Northern Ireland will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group.
The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) legislation, known as ‘Dáithí’s Law’ in honour of six-year-old Dáithí, will change the way consent is granted.
The intent of the new legislation is to increase the current number of organs available to people in need of a transplant.
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