A newborn baby boy, who lived for less than two hours, became the UK’s youngest ever organ donor last year.
Teddy Houlston’s kidneys were used to save an adult’s life in Leeds, after he was diagnosed with anencephaly – a rare and lethal abnormality which prevents the brain and skull from developing.
Teddy’s parents, Mike Houston and Jess Evans, learned their twin pregnancy meant that one of their babies was likely to die in the womb or be born and live for just seconds, minutes or hours after birth.
Deciding to continue their pregnancy, the couple decided they wanted to donate their baby’s organs.
Teddy’s mother Jess told the BBC:
“Organ donation was something I’ve always felt quite strongly about ever since I was a child.”
Doctors at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff carried out the procedure just three minutes after Teddy died on April 22nd last year.
His father Mike Houlston, told The Mirror:
“He lived and died a hero. It’s impossible to explain how proud we are of him.”
The couple with son Noah and daughter Billie.
Speaking about their son’s short life, the couple said:
“Being present throughout Teddy’s life was a privilege” adding that it was “an hour-and-a-half of pure joy”.
The couple, daughter Billie and surviving twin brother Noah, told the newspaper that they celebrated Teddy’s short life by visiting his grave on his birthday.
Images via Mirror UK
