Inspirational Ej goes swimming for the first time after receiving "the gift of life" at Birmingham Children's Hospital | News

Inspirational Ej goes swimming for the first time after receiving "the gift of life" at Birmingham Children's Hospital

Ej with his family Four-year-old Ej went swimming for the first time since before his diagnosis after receiving life-changing transplant surgery at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Now, the family are encouraging everyone to “have the talk” with their loved ones this festive season about giving the “gift of life”. A quick conversation about organ donation could change a family’s life forever.

Louise O’Neill, a Social Care Support Officer from Nottinghamshire and mum to Ej, spoke to us about their journey.

"When Ej was 2-years-old, he was diagnosed with short bowel syndrome at Sheffield Children's Hospital,” said Louise. “Our lives completely changed. Ej suddenly couldn't do the same things that other children his age could do. He couldn't eat, go swimming or play without worry.”

Short bowel syndrome is when a large part of the small bowel is missing, removed or damaged. Ej was transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital to continue his treatment, and in March 2020, doctors told his family that Ej was on the waiting list for a transplant.

"It was a very emotional time," explained Lousie. "We knew that a new bowel for Ej meant a family had lost their child. The wait for a transplant was very overwhelming.”

The family received a call at 4:30 in the morning on Monday 14 September 2020 to say that there was a bowel waiting for Ej.

"We were so surprised, as we thought Ej would be on the waiting list for a long time due to COVID-19. We had tried to give Ej the best quality of life we could during that time, but I know how life-changing this transplant would be for him."

Ej after having his transplant "I drove Ej, who was three at the time, to Birmingham Children's Hospital. I was worried that Ej would be nervous, but he was so excited to get his new tummy so he could eat again and finally go swimming. Being in the ICU can be very daunting, but he was so brave; we were very proud of him.'

Ej's operation was a success, and a few months after his transplant, he was allowed to go swimming for the first time since before he was diagnosed.

"Ej had been asking us to go swimming for months,” added Louise. “He was over the moon to finally be able to go in the pool and the sea with the other children. Now, he is counting down the days till he can go swimming again."

For the first time this year, the family could take Ej and his brothers on holiday.

"It was so wonderful to let Ej swim, play and eat all of his favourite foods again. We are so grateful to our Hepatology Consultant Dr Gupte, Mr Sharif, Ej’s bowel transplant surgeon and everyone in the ICU. We can't thank them enough for giving Ej his life back."

Now, Louise is encouraging others to talk to their loved ones about organ donation.

She said: “Organ Donation has changed Ej’s life and our lives and we are forever grateful. Ej is now able to eat all the wonderful foods he once enjoyed and we are able to do the little things we take for granted like riding a bike, going to the fair in a summer’s evening or a day trip to the zoo.”

“Please take time to talk to your loved ones about your wishes, it’s made myself, my husband and our family see things differently. Organ Donation is so important, it really can change a family’s life forever.”

A conversation about organ donation only takes two minutes but it could save a life. To find out more about giving the "gift of life", visit the organ donation website. https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/

Ej going swimming Ej eating

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