A teenager whose life was saved by a heart transplant has been granted a special wish in honour of her bravery.
Kayleigh Llewellyn was just 12 when she underwent the life-saving transplant at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital after being diagnosed with a form of heart disease called cardiomyopathy. Last Christmas marked two years since the Seaham youngster received her incredible gift of life and now Kayleigh's courageous journey to recovery has been recognised by her favourite YouTube stars.
The 14-year-old met KSI and Sidemen at Hamleys toy store in London last month thanks to charity Rays of Sunshine which works to brighten the lives of seriously ill children. Proud parents Shaun Sidney and Sonia Lewellyn said it was a dream come true for their daughter after all she has been through.
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"I hadn't seen her smile like that since before her transplant," mum Sonia said. "When KSI walked in it was very surreal. Kayleigh's face was lovely.
"She has waited two years for this as it kept getting put off that many times with Covid." Kayleigh was also given £2,000 to spend in the store and treated herself to items including a Nintendo Switch and an Xbox controller.
Mum Sonia said: "Kayleigh couldn't say anything to anyone beforehand as people couldn't know that Sidemen and KSI were going to be in the store in case anybody tried to get inside. She still can't believe she has met them.
"Rays of Sunshine gave her a hoodie to wear on the day but she took it for them all to sign." During her road to recovery, Kayleigh has made it her mission to raise awareness of organ donation by sharing her story.
The Seaham High School pupil has even built up a relationship with the family of her donor, 19-year-old Sinead Bree. She met them in person for the first time last summer during an emotional fundraising walk in her memory.
