Playtime for Beatrix as heart transplant girl, two, gets to leave the hospital ward after positive tests
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Brave little Wearside hero Beatrix Archbold is making miracle steps forward - just two weeks after having a heart transplant.
There's been proper hugs from mum Cheryl, from Roker, and dad Terry.
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Hide AdIt's the first time in more than a year that she has had a cuddle without an artificial heart attached to her.
'I can't tell you how scrumptious it is just to pick her up for a cuddle'
In another positive twist, Beatrix was well enough to enjoy time in the Freeman Hospital play room.
The good news keeps on coming. She has taken a first walk round the apartment where she will stay with mum and dad while she adapts to her new life.
And even better, she has had more tests and they have all had encouraging results.
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Hide AdCheryl said: "I can't even begin to tell you how blooming lovely and scrumptious it feels just to pick my tot up out her cot for a cuddle.
'I have dreamt of those moments. It's as lush as I remembered'
"No rigmarole of taking the cot end off to free her pipes. No moving her machine and no juggling them both.
"Nothing stopping her from snuggling in close. I've dreamt of these moments. It is as lush as I'd remembered.
Terry said: "To think how only days ago this wasn't our life, how we couldn't even think past that day.
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Hide Ad'The word gift doesn't come close to what it means to us'
"They say organ donation is a gift. The word gift doesn't even come close to describing what it means to us."
It has been a complete turnaround from two weeks ago when Beatrix was attached to a Berlin machine, which worked as her artificial ventricles.
But life has moved fast since the transplant.
Dad Terry said: "Whilst we transition between ward and home life, The Sick Children's Trust provides a "transplant flat".
"This means we can build up our time away from the ward and Beatrix will start staying with us there.
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Hide Ad"Yesterday she visited with me for the first time. It was lovely to see her pottering about."
'All looked well which is a relief'
There has been a day of tests as well.
"She had an X-ray, echo and ECG. All looked well which is a relief," said dad.Beatrix first became ill in May 2021.
Saved by the experts after a cardiac arrest
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Hide AdAfter going to A&E, a doctor at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead detected a heart murmur. Tests showed one side of her heart was enlarged and not functioning properly.
Have that talk about organ donation
Terry and Cheryl have regularly spoken to the Sunderland Echo to urge Wearside people to start talking more about the sensitive topic of donating a child’s organs.
For more on organ donation, visit https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/