The grateful dad who will forever say thank you for his Wearside daughter's heart transplant

Proud dad Terry Archbold has looked back on the heart transplant which saved the life of his courageous Wearside daughter three years ago this month.

Beatrix Archbold, whose mum Cheryl comes from Roker, is a sassy, lively and wonderful little 5-year-old who is enjoying school, playtime and all sorts of adventures.

But it could have been so different had she not received a new heart in June 2023 when she was only two years old.

Beatrix needed a heart transplant after tests three years ago showed one side of her heart was enlarged and not functioning properly.

Today, dad Terry said: “Today a little girl will live an ordinary, extraordinary life. Today a family will wonder about their little one, what would their life have been like, what would they have been like? What dreams would they have had?

“And they will miss their little one with an ache and hurt that can't be fixed.

“Today, many countries away, a little girl lives because of them. The love of two sets of parents, strangers, joined as one.”

Speaking on social media, he told of his hope that one day he could meet the donor family and say a heartfelt thank you.

“I hope we are looking after your little one well. I hope we are giving them the love and life you would have dreamt of I hope you see Bea and take comfort, her sass, her smile, her love.....because of you.

“I hope, one day, to be able to look you in the eyes, no words needed, to be able to truly say thank you.”

When Beatrix first took ill, she had an operation to fit a line into her body so she could receive medication but she had a cardiac arrest and was saved by expert surgeons at the Freeman Hospital who performed open heart surgery.

Then came a 14-month wait for a new heart.

The little girl lived in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for a year and was attached to tubes which acted as her ventricles.

She finally got her new heart in 2023.

Terry added: “Today a family will grieve the loss of their little one. Today a little girl, 5 years old now, will head off to school, a life of wonder and adventure ahead of her. Her mum will give her a kiss and wave her off, her dad will be keen to finish work and get back to pick her up and play.

“He will give her a big hug and swing her up on his shoulders as the walk from the school.”

“Today a family will grieve the loss of their little one.”

Beatrix is doing so well that she will be a guest at an event in West Bromwich on June 28. People who have had various transplants will be pulling a 20-tonne truck to raise money for charity. Find out more here.

To find out more about organ donation, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or use the NHS app.