A little boy who was born with his heart the 'wrong way around' is asking for one wish.
Archie Purnell, 9, was born with multiple heart defects, including Dextrocardia. The critical condition means Archie's heart is pointed toward the right side of the chest, when it should point toward the left.
This means he struggles to get oxygen and may need a heart transplant in the near future. Since being born Archie has had four open heart surgeries, and was given a 20% chance of survival in his last operation.
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Donna Purnell, Archie's mum said her son has "beaten the odds every time". She said: "Because of the medication he’s on, he’s not allowed to do contact sports. We got him into a little football team and he was allowed to do training, but they couldn’t let him play a match because of insurance purposes. It’s just too dangerous for him."
Archie, from Bristol, was first referred to the charity Make-A-Wish UK in 2019, and has been waiting for his wish for almost three years. Although he initially wished to meet Ant and Dec, football-mad Archie now wishes to watch his favourite team – Liverpool FC – play at Anfield.
Speaking about his wish, nine-year-old Archie said: "I’ve been outside the stadium [Anfield], but I haven’t been inside. That would be my dream come true."
For Archie, the future is uncertain, and Donna said his condition is "life-limiting". She added: "With medicine changing all the time, we just don’t know what the future holds. We’re grateful for every single day that he’s here."
Jason Suckley, Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish UK, said: ‘When COVID hit, we suffered a 40% drop in income with almost 2000 wishes forced to be put on hold. Wishes like Archie’s, which involved travel and contact with others, became almost impossible.
"503 children just like Archie across the UK are still waiting for their wish to come true. Some have been waiting for years, like Archie himself, and some may not have long left. By donating today at www.make-a-wish.org.uk/worldwishday, you can help grant life-changing wishes for children like Archie."
