Two West Monkseaton youngsters get heart transplants

Mar 14 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

SURGEONS who performed two heart transplants on youngsters who lived just streets apart have told of their joy at being able to save the children’s lives.

Patrick Skinner, two-and-a-half, and Ellen Walsh, 10 months, have both had heart transplants on the same day at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

Despite living just streets apart in West Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, the parents of Ellen and Patrick never met until their worlds were simultaneously turned upside down.

It is believed it could be the first time in British medical history two child heart transplants have been carried out on the same day.

And just five days after the operations the youngsters are doing well, with Patrick out of intensive care and Ellen set to follow suit later today. Consultant paediatric cardiologist, Asif Hasan, carried out Ellen’s operation, and Massimo Griselli operated on Patrick.

Mr Hasan said: “Both children are doing very well and are well ahead of the progress they should be making at this stage.

“Patrick is out of intensive care and Ellen is due to be moved later.

“It is very unique to operate on children who live just streets apart and that has never happened before. It is lovely that they both found a transplant.

“Ellen and Patrick have been in hospital beds opposite each other for some time.

“When a transplant is found for a child you are conscious of other parents looking and wondering why a match is not available for their child.

“As a result it is lovely that both families have been given the same good news.”