Transplant girl who had six heart attacks before she was 18 months old loses battle for life

A toddler who topped the European transplant list to receive a donor heart has died.

Zoe Chambers underwent a 10-hour operation at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle last June, after she was born with narrow heart valves and suffered six cardiac arrests.

Medical staff were so concerned for her health before the transplant they issued an appeal, and she was placed at the top of the European waiting list, so if an organ became available it would be flown to Newcastle by private jet.

Last month the two-year-old's parents, Rob and Julie, threw a party for Zoe in their home city of Hull, East Yorkshire, to celebrate a full year of good health since she received her new heart.

Chambers' condition improved as her medication was reduced to only one a day down from more than 30 different tablets.

She also began eating solid food, enabling her family to remove the gastric  nasal tube and in March this year - on Mother's day - she took her very first  steps.

She was also due to be the youngest competitor at the British Transplant Games in Sheffield in August.

The toddler been previously kept alive with a Berlin  heart - equipment worth £100,000 that simulates the crucial organ - while she waited for the lifesaving donation.

Transplant Sport UK confirmed today that the toddler had passed away.

Carol Olley, a paediatric representative with the charity, said: "We are greatly saddened at the loss of Zoe Chambers, one of our youngest members.

Zoe with her mother Julie, who has been campaigning to urge more people to become organ donors

"Although transplantation saves many thousands of lives each year, sadly some recipients are not as lucky.

"Transplantation offers a renewed quality of life to people with life threatening conditions and for children, the chance to start living their life after illness.

"However, longevity can not be guaranteed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Chambers family at this sad time."

After Zoe's operation last year, Julie Chambers, 34, said she would not stop campaigning to urge more people to become organ donors and was pleased with the publicity that her daughter's case had raised.

"Unfortunately there are still people out there waiting for a transplant so if Zoe's story can get 10 or 20 people on to the list, it is great," she said.

She also expressed her deep thanks to the donor family and said: "It was very brave what they did for us and I hope they get some comfort from this."