The parents of a young girl facing a critical heart condition are appealing to families to consider organ donation as a potential lifesaving option. Poppy Lambert, 21 months old, was diagnosed before birth with tetralogy of Fallot, a rare congenital heart defect. She underwent heart surgery in December but subsequently required multiple additional operations at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Now, a heart transplant is the only viable treatment to save her life.

Poppy’s parents, Becca and Kevin Lambert, both from Cleator Moor in Cumbria, are encouraging open conversations about organ donation within families. Becca, who works as an NHS donor carer, emphasized the importance of this gift of life but acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. “Organ donation is at an all-time low,” she noted, “and we know that it is such a hard decision to make when a child unexpectedly passes away. We respect anyone’s decision.”

Becca highlighted that current organ donation policies assume consent unless a patient opts out, a system she supports. However, she suggested revising the law to prioritize the patient’s recorded wishes over those of their family members, who currently have the authority to override the decision. She indicated this as a significant factor that often prevents adult organ donations from proceeding.

Poppy is currently being supported by a mechanical pump known as a Berlin heart, which helps sustain her circulation. Her mother explained that while the device allows for mobility once she recovers sufficiently, prolonged bed rest led to a stroke during her treatment.

Kevin Lambert, a 33-year-old manager at the Sellafield nuclear plant, described the experience as an emotional “rollercoaster” for the family as they navigate Poppy’s complex medical journey.

Dr. Barbara Cardoso, a paediatric cardiology consultant and transplant physician, noted that some bereaved families find solace in the knowledge that their child’s heart might save another child’s life, describing this outcome as a “legacy of love.”