Ballet wish comes true for heart transplant girl
Jan 24 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal
AN 11-year-old dance lover who was given a new heart had her wish come true with her ballet debut last night.
Sarah Barton of East Herrington in Sunderland had a heart transplant after she was suddenly struck down with a viral infection which caused her heart to fail.
She still has monthly check ups at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital but has returned to school and loves her Bollywood dance sessions.
Hearing of her love of dance the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK and Ellen Kent and Ballet International transformed the Farringdon College Sports Comprehensive pupil into a beautiful ballerina.
Sarah was an honorary member of the cast alongside the Chisinau National Ballet in their performance of the famous Nutcracker in Sunderland Empire Theatre.
Her mother Bev said: “To see Sarah on stage was amazing – there were tears. Sarah had a hideous time in hospital and the transplant was traumatic for all the family.
“It is fantastic what the charity does as a wish is granted for the whole family which gives you a really nice boost.”
Sarah was joined by her friend Amy Ferguson, 11, and her parents to meet the cast and enjoy a backstage tour before tucking into a “Nutcracker ” picnic.
She then changed into her ballerina costume, which she will keep as a memento of her special day.
The keen runner for Houghton and Peterlee Harriers had taken part in the Race for Life in Gosforth Park, Newcastle, days before she became ill.
She was taken to Sunderland General before she was taken to the Freeman Hospital with the Tyne Tunnel being closed to other traffic to speed up her transfer.
She was admitted to Intensive Care where was put on a ventilator and had a machine pump blood round her body.
Sarah then contracted an infection and doctors told her family only a new heart would save her life. She was put on the top of the UK heart transplant waiting list and a heart became available in 23 hours. She had a nine-hour operation on June 11 but two weeks later her new heart began beating irregularly and she had to have a pacemaker fitted
She left hospital on her 11th birthday on July 10, eight weeks after she was first admitted. Now she is looking forward to another wish – to swim with dolphins in Discovery Cove, Florida with her family, parents Beverley and Peter, and brothers Andrew, 17, and Christopher, 14, in May.
Her mother Bev is backing new legislation to automatically put people on to the organ donor register and be taken off only if they request it.
“Apathy prevents people taking the time out of their busy lives to register when in fact the majority of people I have spoke to aren’t opposed to being on the register,” she said.
Make-A-Wish Foundation UK is the leading UK wish granting charity with one simple aim – to grant wishes of children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, corporate, celebrity and individual sponsors around the country, Make-A-Wish has granted over 4,500 wishes since it began in 1986.
