'One phone call changed our life when waiting for an organ donor'

When these photos of kids with red telephones were published in September 2023 for a project called The Call, they touched the heart of the nation. Taken by award winning photographer Debbie Todd, who campaigns to raise awareness of organ donation, she showed the raw reality of the nail biting wait for a transplant. A phone call that says whether an organ is available, whether you live or die. Debbie’s idea for The Call came after visiting Beatrix Archbold in hospital, and seeing the red phone on the ward that only rings when an organ donor has been found. At the time, the two year old, from County Durham, was in need of a new heart. The resulting images were shown in all major cities, thanks to the Red Sky Foundation Charity. Debbie, who lives in Consett, County Durham, said: “Seeing that red phone in the ward really struck a chord with me, it was such a powerful reminder of how important the gift of life is and how it all depends on a single phone call.” Now, to mark Organ Donation Week, we take a look at what happened to 8 of the 17 children she photographed. Back in September 2023, some had been praying for that red phone to ring, while others had already received that all important call. Grace Westwood, six, from Birmingham, was the first patient in the UK to be fitted with a mobile heart, which allowed her to leave the ward. But she spent more than two years in hospital before she received a donor heart. Dad Darren said: “She is thriving now. She loves drawing, crafts and swimming and going to the beach. “ Evie Green, seven, from Middlesbrough, spent 470 days waiting for a new heart at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. She eventually received one in July 2024 and was able to be a flower girl at the wedding of her mum’s best friend last year. Mum Chloe, who lives with husband, David, said: “We were watching her dying before that call came. It came with a lot of guilt. We were waiting for another family to do an ‘amazing’ thing, and that appreciation never fades. If I could speak to her donor family, I would just be forever thanking them." Ava Murray, seven, from Peterhead, Scotland, was on oxygen 24 hours a day, which had to be carried around wherever she went, as she was waiting for a double lung transplant, aged just four, because of a genetic lung disorder. She received her new lungs in 2024. Sadly, last October, doctors discovered she is now in chronic rejection. Ava and mum Tamara travel every fortnight to Newcastle for treatment to try and preserve her lung function. She may need another transplant in the future, but her parents are trying to hold off. Tamara says: “She is now at primary school and is really enjoying it.” Teddy Nicholls, four, from Cambridgeshire, was born with a rare severe inherited liver condition called neonatal hemochromatosis. He had his first liver transplant at just ten weeks old. At the time of The Call project, he was waiting for his second transplant, which he then had in December 2023, when his mother Emma donated part of her own liver to him. But he is now waiting for the phone to ring again, as he needs a third transplant. Beatrix Archbold, five, from County Durham, fell ill with heart failure at 15 months, after initial symptoms resembling Covid. She received a life saving heart transplant, aged two, in July 2023, after spending 14 months on a mechanical heart machine at Freeman Hospital. She has since celebrated milestones like turning on Christmas lights and was even a firefighter for a day with local emergency services. She completed the Mini Great North Run this month, for the third time, to raise awareness for organ donation. Dad Terry, 49, said: “It was a dream for her to be able to do something like this. It was very emotional watching her cross the finish line.” Phoebe Elliston, five, from Wigan, Lancs., was diagnosed with a rare life-threatening liver condition called biliary atresia when she was born, and had a procedure called a Kasai to try and fix it, but that ultimately failed. She had a liver transplant when she was ten months old, after her grandma donated part of her own liver to save her. Since then, she’s had ongoing operations to repair her abdominal wall, but lives a normal life. She took part in the transplant games in August in Sheffield and scooped two bronze medals for the obstacle race and 25 metres. Mum Lauren said: ‘When I look at photos of mum and Phoebe together, its like looking at this special bond. She’s just started year one at school and she’s absolutely loving it.” Daithi Mac Gabhann, nine, from Ballymurphy, Northern Ireland, has just received his life saving heart transplant in July this year. He was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, meaning the left side of his heart didn’t develop properly. The transplant ended an eight year wait for him. His dad, Mairtin, said it was “emotional” to have him back home. In 2023 a law was introduced in Northern Ireland, which means that people automatically become potential organ donors unless they explicitly say they don’t want to be. It was named Daithi’s Law, after the brave boy’s family spent years campaigning on the issue. Freddie Wiles, six, from Preston, Lancs, had his heart transplant just before Christmas in 2023, after being diagnosed with the heart condition restrictive cardiomyopathy. He spent the festive period in intensive care recovering. So, he was excited to be able to spend his first proper Christmas at home with dad Andrew, and mum, Harriet, in 2024. He struggled to even take a breath before his transplant, but now has a completely new lease of life. His mum said: “The wait for the call was the worst time of our lives. We never knew if it would come in time and we were always aware there was a chance Freddie may not make it while he waited. “Every time the phone rang our hearts would stop. Now he’s doing really well. Now we can’t get him to stop eating and he’s enjoying food. “He’s been able to go to school and he loves it. Watching him walk through the school gates in his uniform on his first day was such a highlight for our family.” *For more information about organ donation visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk