A teenager whose life was saved by a heart transplant just before Christmas three years ago has marked the milestone with a dream holiday that her family feared would never be possible.
Kayleigh Llewellyn was just 12 when she underwent the life-saving transplant at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital in November 2019 after being diagnosed with a form of heart disease called cardiomyopathy.
This Christmas, the Seaham youngster has celebrated the three-year anniversary since she received the precious gift of life with a family trip to New York. The 15-year-old travelled to the Big Apple with mum Sonia Llewellyn and dad Shaun Sidney last week where they took in the sights including the huge Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree that she has always dreamed of seeing.
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Dad Shaun said visiting New York was an emotional experience for the family as it marks just how far Kayleigh has come.
"It was amazing and we have made some great memories," he said.
"We were in tears when doctors gave us her 'fit to fly letter' because we needed for the insurance to go to New York.
"It was a trip of a lifetime and we just can't thank our family and friends enough for their help to get us to get her there."
Over the last three years, Kayleigh has continued to amaze both doctors and teachers with her progress. The courageous teenager is on daily medication to ensure her body does not reject the transplant and also has regular checkups at the hospital.
Despite missing more than a year of school as she recovered, Kayleigh is excelling at her studies and recently won a Seaham High School award in recognition of her achievements in health and social care. She has now been accepted into East Durham College once she finishes her exams at school in May and has set her sights on becoming a paramedic.
"We are so proud of her and of everything she has achieved," Shaun said.
"She has always said she wanted to be a nurse before she got poorly but I think with the experience she has been through and everything she has seen she has her heart set on being a paramedic."
In honour of her 19-year-old donor, Sinead Bree, Kayleigh has made it her mission to raise awareness of organ donation and hopes her story will encourage others to sign up to the donor register.
In a moving post on her Instagram page, every.beatcounts, Kayleigh said: "Three years later and I’m blessed to be a part of the transplant survivors [who have all been] blessed with a second chance.
"Today brings back so many emotions and it’s hard to put into words. This is the day I got given a second chance.
"This is the day someone else’s child, auntie, cousin, gave their heart to me. This is the day that started a new chapter in my life.
"This is the day we celebrate the gift of life and honour Sinead and my donor family. I hope my story inspires at least one person to consider organ donation."
Dad Shaun added: "We keep talking to people about organ donation with family and friends. It is really important to keep pushing that message every day.
"We are going to have a quiet Christmas and just enjoy knowing that Kayleigh is OK and doing well."
Angie Scales, paediatric lead nurse at NHS Blood and Transplant, also urged people to speak to their loved ones about organ donation this Christmas.
“It is lovely to hear that Kayleigh is doing so well after her heart transplant," she said.
"Organ donation saves lives and also provides comfort to donor families after a tragic loss. Our thoughts are with Kayleigh’s donor and their family. We ask that families talk together about organ donation and their decisions and make sure children are included.
"It is important to register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and be sure your family knows what you want. Children can also register their decision or be registered by their parents."
To register to become an organ donor visit: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk
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