Transplant teenager in donor call

Kaylee is a strong supporter of organ donation

A teenager is celebrating the 15th anniversary of becoming the UK's first baby to successfully receive a new heart.

Kaylee Davidson was just five months old when she had the transplant on 14 October 1987.

She suffered cardiomyopathy - a disease which destroyed the heart muscle - and her only hope was to receive a new organ.

The teenager from Washington, Tyne and Wear, is now a vociferous campaigner for organ donation.

Kaylee was five months old when she had her transplant

Kaylee - who has two sisters Lindsay, 14 and 11-year-old Rebecca - said: "If it wasn't for organ donors I wouldn't be here today.

"It is very important for people to sign up to the donor register and, most importantly, discuss their wishes with their families to give people like me a chance to live."

Since Kaylee's transplant at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, more than 100 children have received new organs at its paediatric transplant unit.

'Very lucky'

Kaylee's mother Carol has organised a gala dinner at the end of the month to raise cash for the organ donor campaign.

She said: "If it hadn't been for the generosity of another family I wouldn't have my daughter today.

"She is into boys, discos, make-up and Gareth Gates is God at the moment.

"At the time there had been no previous successes and here we are 15 years later with a child, or a young woman now, who is happy at school, has lots of friends and leading as normal a life as possible.

"We are very lucky."