18 December 2023 , 20:18
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A boy who has been made the face of a charity Christmas Appeal had a rail of a time as he visited an underground station to see his photo on campaign posters.
Henry Waines has been under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital his whole life, spending his first two Christmases there. And the plucky six-year-old - dubbed ‘Heroic Henry’ by his family - could not stop grinning during a VIP visit to London St Pancras Underground Station on Sunday.
He was greeted by station staff who gave him his own Transport for London uniform and took him to see his first tube - along with his face on GOSH Charity’s adverts.
Mum Shevonne with Henry, 6, who has been under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) all his life (PA)Proud mum Shevonne said that Henry - whose favourite film is Polar Express - “loved the experience.” “It’s a reminder of how far he’s come and we are so grateful to his team at GOSH for helping us get to this stage,” she said.
Henry, from Bridlington, Yorkshire, has defied all expectations after being diagnosed with rare and life-threatening conditions at birth. He was found to have a windpipe that was at least four times smaller than it should have been, two holes in his heart, and his left artery was wrapped around his windpipe.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
The youngster was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for life-saving surgery when he was five weeks old and went on to have numerous procedures there.
Henry on the escalator (PA)His first Christmas in 2017 was spent in the hospital’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, and a year later it was spent in a ventilation ward with his parents by his bedside.
Henry was able to go home in January 2019 but is still cared for by GOSH. He needs permanent ventilation and is always accompanied by two trained adults, but is also able to attend a mainstream school and has begun swimming lessons. Shevonne, who has helped raise more than £40,000 for GOSH, added: “We call him Heroic Henry. He is a superstar."
Henry also stars in the charity’s animated Christmas film, where he collects magic stockings - representing donations - to help him travel home from GOSH to Yorkshire. Shevonne hopes Henry’s story will inspire others to donate to the appeal, so other sick children can spend the festive period at home with their families.
Emma Strain, Customer Director at TfL, said: “Henry’s bravery is an inspiration for all of us and we are so glad that he enjoyed his day and pleased that we could play a small part in making Henry’s Christmas wish come true."