Zoe Chambers, an 18-month-old girl from Hull, who was born with a heart valve which was too narrow, has had her heart transplant at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.
Zoe had been at the top of a European heart transplant list after suffering six heart attacks and had been give only weeks to live unless she had a transplant. A hospital spokeswoman said the transplant had gone quite well and Zoe was in a stable condition.
"We thank the donor family for thinking about another child during their sad time," she added. The hospital will not be releasing details of the donor family. Her situation was so desperate, she was put at the top of a European waiting list for a donor last weekend. Her parents Rob and Julie have been keeping vigil with her at the Freeman Hospital, which is a leading transplant centre.
It was unclear where the donor heart came from, but before the transplant hospital officials said Zoe's case was so serious that if a suitable organ was found anywhere in Europe it would be flown to Newcastle by private jet.
A hospital spokeswoman has said that Zoe's parents did not wish to comment on the operation.
June 2007
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