New heart joy for five-month-old Archie

A baby boy from Staffordshire has had a heart transplant after a donor organ was flown to the UK from Sweden.

Five-month-old Archie Simpson's life-saving operation just beat the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.

The Lear Jet carrying his new heart landed just before the cloud forced the closure of all UK airports. Archie was being kept alive on a mechanical "Berlin" heart at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne until his transplant six weeks ago.

Archie has recovered so well that he has been able to go home to Norton Canes with parents Lisa and Matthew but is returning weekly to the hospital clinic for checks.

Matthew said: "He is blossoming now. We hope he will grow up fit and healthy."

The complex surgery took many hours to complete, and surgeons were delighted that the new heart worked well straight away.

"We feel like the luckiest parents in the world," said 37-year-old Mr Simpson, a painter and decorator.

Mr and Mrs Simpson, of Kingswood Drive, said they had also had great support from their family.

"We couldn't wait to be able to take Archie home. We have got back into a family life quite quickly - we are enjoying every second," added Mr Simpson.

Lynne Holt from the Organ Donor Register said: "Archie was a really lucky boy. The ash cloud came down just a few hours after the plane landed with the new heart and all air space was shut." Anyone interested in joining the register can call 0300 123 2323.

The couple waited for six days with Archie on the mechanical heart before the donor was found.

Archie had been taken to hospital at seven-and-a-half weeks, and his dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed at Birmingham Children's Hospital which arranged for him to go to Newcastle.

Lisa, 25, said Archie would be on certain drugs for the rest of his life. He is being kept in isolation for three months because the drugs to prevent rejection of the new heart wipe the immune system completely.