It has been announced this morning that Dáithí Mac Gabhann has received his long-awaited heart transplant.
The nine-year-old, from Belfast, has been on the transplant waiting list sine 2018 and was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).
The family took to social media on the Donate4Dáithí platforms to announce the news on Tuesday 21 July stating: “Dáithí has received the gift of a heart transplant. His wait, the longest of any child in the world for a heart transplant, is over.”
In February, Dáithí was moved from the routine transplant list to the urgent list as his health declined.
His family have campaigned tirelessly across Northern Ireland and beyond to amend the law on organ donation.
The introduction of a soft opt-out system, known as Dáithí’s Law came into effect on 1 June 2023.
Under this legislation, all adults are generally considered potential organ donors unless they specifically choose to opt out or belong to an exempt group.
In their announcement on social media the family said: “There have already been some big wins for him, but there is still a long road ahead, and we would ask you all to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
