11-week-old baby from Hemel Hempstead urgently needs heart transplant

William Jones was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, and is now on life support at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

This condition has left his heart muscle thin and stretched, unable to pump blood properly.

Parents Laura Osborne and Stuart Jones with baby William (Image: NHS Blood and Transplant)

William’s parents, Laura Osborne and Stuart Jones, are now living in hospital accommodation to be closer to their first child, and are appealing for families to think and talk about organ donation.

The baby's only chance of survival is a heart transplant from a donor of similar size and weight.

Ms Osborne, 35, said: "We really miss him, we had a few weeks at home and he was an absolute delight.

"He’s funny and has these little frowns and facial expressions – he is cheeky. We want him back home.

"His heart doesn’t work properly and he has been listed for an urgent heart transplant, this is the only option to save his life.

"We could be waiting a year, two, longer, he may not make it to transplant but we’re keeping going – he needs a transplant."

Mother Laura Osborne: We still get smiles and he is playful when he is awake, he is showing us he wants to survive (Image: NHS Blood and Transplant)

She continued: "We are terrified, he could deteriorate at any point. Our feelings are all over the place, from hope to hopelessness. We’re trying to have a routine and live for the cuddles and playful awake times. I can’t hold him much and it’s heartbreaking."

Currently more than 7,000 people, including 250 children, are on the organ transplant waiting list, with nearly 300 patients, including 38 children, in need of heart transplants.

Ms Osborne added: "William has got a lot stacked against him, I don’t know if my baby is going to survive this or not.

"I’ve been a registered organ donor for a long time but it hadn’t crossed my mind to think of children donating until now.

"Now we will rely on a family agreeing to donate - William has no future without a heart transplant.

"I want to raise awareness for William and all the children and patients waiting."

Angie Scales, Lead Nurse for Paediatric Organ Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “For William and lots of children waiting for a life-saving transplant, their only hope is the parents of another child agreeing to organ donation at a time of immense sadness and personal grief.

“Losing a child is incredibly tragic and difficult. Families of young organ donors tell us that knowing their child’s donation has saved lives can bring some comfort.

“We urge parents to think and talk about organ donation for themselves and their family today. Your decision could help save lives.”

For more information on donating, head to the NHS Organ Donor Register via organdonation.nhs.uk.