Parents of young Chesterfield heart transplant girl back calls for more organ donors

Nick and Clare Bingham’s five-year-old daughter Freya – who was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition – underwent an organ transplant last year after an agonising two-month wait in hospital.

Now the couple is backing a campaign by the Children’s Heart Foundation (CHF) calling for more people to sign the donor register.

Speaking about their ordeal with Freya, Nick, of Highbury Road, Newbold, said: “Our world turned upside down – it was a living nightmare.

“We arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night and Freya was put on a Berlin heart machine for 63 agonising days.

“Thankfully we received a heart but without the donor Freya would not be alive today.”

Freya is now back home after her surgery.

Nick added: “We’re so pleased to have her back and we’re all still adjusting to homelife.

“All our family are on the register now.”

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins, who is supporting the campaign, said: “Nobody likes to think of their children’s mortality – but one family’s tragedy is a lifesaver for another so I hope everyone will consider whether they want to put their children on the donor register.”

Anne Keatley Clarke, chief executive of the CHF, added: “Being told that your child needs a heart transplant is devastating.

“We want to give heart children the best chance of life.”

Last year, when Freya’s story came to light, the Derbyshire Times launched a fundraising appeal to help the Bingham family.

Kind-hearted Chesterfield folk raised thousands of pounds to aid the Binghams as they faced a childcare crisis.

For more information about CHF and becoming a donor, visit www.chfed.org.uk