Change the law to help our baby Ryan live
He is the little fighter who has raised a smile despite his long stay in hospital hundreds of miles from home.
Medics have given Ryan Brookhouse only a 60 per cent chance of survival and recovery as he battles against a rare virus.
It means he now needs a heart transplant – but his fight for life has become caught up in red tape.
The six-month-old's family, who come from Wolverhampton, cannot understand why UK guidelines prevent the parents of newborn babies from donating their child's organs if they die.
The current code of practice prevents children under two-months-old from being declared brain dead and becoming an organ donor.
However, transplants can be done using organs imported from other European countries where the rules differ.
Ryan has been treated at a specialist hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in recent months.
His mother, Kaylee Hickman, said: "You're thinking: 'There are so many hearts and so many babies who have lost their lives and their hearts can't be used.'
"We have to look to Europe for hearts and we should be able to do that in this country."
Ryan's story has captured the hearts of thousands keeping up-to-date with his progress through Facebook. His parents now want to raise funds to help other children and their families who are in a similar position. His father Gary Brookhouse, of Leasowes Drive, said: "
"The Facebook page is a window for us to explain everything without having to be in contact with everyone. It has been good for us too."
The couple, who have been together for around four years, are engaged but have put wedding plans on hold.
Little Ryan was born at New Cross Hospital, in Wolverhampton, on September 30 last year and after weight-loss and jaundice it was discovered he had poor heart function. He was then diagnosed with Enterovirus and now has to be treated in Newcastle.
The family want to raise money for a charity called Children Heart Unit Fund which supports the clinical and emotional well-being of the child patients and their loved ones. Visit www.justgiving.com/RyanBrookhouseCHUF to donate towards the fundraising bid or www.facebook.com/RyanBrookhouse2013. A fundraiser is also taking place with a night of live music and a disco to be held on April 5 at the charity Insight House, in Pearson Street, Brierley Hill. The night starts at 7pm and tickets are £5 adults and £1 children. Call Cheryl Handley on 07914153803.
