07 January 2024 , 19:24
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When he was 11 years old, Harry Johnson witnessed the fabulous care NHS medics gave to his family as his little brother Max went through heart transplant surgery.
They saved Max’s life, for which he will be forever grateful, but the way the medical team looked after him and his parents also impressed Harry. He said: “They were really able to make us all feel better and safe in their care, which I thought was fantastic. They were so professional. It was just impressive to witness that first hand.”
It left such an impression, Harry decided on a career in medicine. Now 18 and in his first year at university, Harry said: “When he was in hospital, I saw the doctors taking care of Max and that stuck with me. It was always at the back of my mind when it came to my future career. I looked back at Max in hospital, and that is what made me choose medicine.”
Max was nine years old in 2017 when he had his heart transplant at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Harry has returned to the city to study medicine at Newcastle University, and says after his first hospital visit as part of his studies, he thought: “I have made the right choice.”
Harry was 11 when his brother had the life-saving surgery (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)He spoke of his dream job as Max celebrated his 16th birthday. Max said his birthday made him reflect on the “incredible” gift of life he was given by the family of his heart donor Keira Ball. Nine-year-old Keira was killed in a car crash that left her mum Loanna seriously injured. It was left to dad Joe Ball, of Barnstaple, Devon, to make the decision to donate his daughter’s organs.
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Max said: “If it were not for Keira and what her family did, I would not be here. It is just incredible. My 16th birthday feels like a milestone, I was eight when I first fell ill. It is a miracle we found the donor family, it is quite astonishing. It is really nice we are still in touch and have a good relationship.”
Max Johnson with his mum Emma (Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)Max is eyeing a career in construction, and joked he could soon be as tall as his brother. He said: “I have to keep growing and beat him.”
Their parents Emma, 53, and Paul, 50, from Winsford, Cheshire, still campaign for organ donation. The opt-out organ donor legislation passed in 2020 in England was named Max and Keira’s Law following a five-year Mirror crusade. It means people are considered to be potential donors unless they have opted out.
Relatives are always consulted first on any donation. It is hoped that it will lead to 700 extra transplants each year. The Department of Health said the new law would “save or transform countless lives in the future”.
For more information, go to organdonation.nhs.uk