A schoolgirl whose life was saved by a stranger's heart donor transplant says they now take every step together in a moving letter to her donor's family. Keen footballer Kayleigh Llewellyn is only able to continue her passion because of the heart which previously belonged to Sinead Bree, the Mirror reports.
The 15-year-old girl has written a touching letter to Sinead's family, who lost their daughter at the age of 19, to mark the third anniversary of the transplant that saved her life. The courageous teen who always 'wanted to help others' made the decision to donate her organs before she died which saved the lives of four people after she passed away.
Kayleigh has raised money for a suicide prevention charity in honour of Sinead's memory and keeps a picture of her 'hero' by her bed every night to express her gratitude for being given a 'second chance' at life. The 15-year-old's heart warming letter said: “Today brings back so many emotions and it’s hard to put into words.
"This is the day I was given a second chance, this is the day someone else’s child, auntie, cousin, gave their heart to me. This is the day that started a new chapter in my life.
"This is the day we celebrate the gift of life and the honour of Sinead and my donor family. Sinead’s light still shines on every page I read or write, [and] in every smiling face I see.
"We may not have been on the same path before, but today you walk with me. I hope my story inspires at least one person to consider organ donation with a healthy heart.
"The beat goes on... To the donors out there, living and dead, you are true heroes.” Kayleigh from Seaham, Co Durham said that life has handed her 'a few more struggles' than most so far but proudly adds that her heart is as 'strong as the day it was gifted to me'.
The 15-year-old and her parents, Shaun and Sonia, have since met Sinead's family who live in Thorne, South Yorkshire. Vicki Cooper, who was Sinead's aunt, saw Kayleigh appear on the television with Piers Morgan during an episode of Good Morning Britain for the first time.
The 43-year-olde said: “Her dad said they would love to meet their donor family. When we first wrote to each other, we were not allowed to say too much about ourselves.
“So it was very emotional seeing Kayleigh for the first time. We know part of Sinead lives on.
“She donated her organs to four people. So potentially, four lives have been saved.
“Sinead wanted to join the police and worked alongside social services with children... She saw a homeless man at the station, and would give him food and clothing. If there is an afterlife, she will be looking down on Kayleigh. She would have wanted to help others.”
Kayleigh was in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for over 100 days before she received the heart transplant in 2019. Her dad said: “There are no words to express the gratitude we feel for Sinead’s family. They have saved Kayleigh’s life.”
The family also showed their support for the Mirror's Change the Law for Life Campaign which led to the opt-out donor law in 2020. The law means that adults in England are assumed organ donors when they pass away unless they specifically stated otherwise.
It was named Max and Keira’s Law after Mirror campaigner Max Johnson, 14, of Winsford, Cheshire, and his heroic heart donor Keira Ball. Kiera was only nine-years-old when she passed away following a car crash in 2017 near her home in Devon.
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