Celebration for heart swap pair

Kaylee Davidson had her heart transplant in 1987

The UK's first baby heart transplant survivor has shared her 21st birthday party with another young recipient of a donor heart.

Kaylee Davidson, of Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, was five months old when she had the operation at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

She invited Freeman patient Zoe Chambers, two, from Hull, to her home.

Zoe, suffered six cardiac arrests and spent 100 days on an artificial heart before her successful transplant.

Ms Davidson, a regular competitor at the World Transplant Games, said she was delighted to be able to share her celebration with Zoe and her family.

Zoe's parents travel to Tyneside from Humberside so the toddler can receive regular check-ups at the Freeman.

Zoe Chambers was also treated at the Freeman Hospital

Ms Davidson said: "I'm having Zoe Chambers and some friends over at my house for a big party. It's going to be great."

Ms Davidson's mother Carol called or more potential organ donors to come forward.

She said: "Kaylee's 21st birthday is an opportunity to tell the world about transplantation and celebrate the success of the Newcastle transplant programme."

The heart transplant programme began at the Freeman Hospital in 1985.

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