A courageous young girl, who awaited a heart transplant for over a year, has realised her dream of becoming a firefighter for a day. Beatrix Adamson-Archbold was featured on the front page of a major publication in June 2022. Her parents, Terry and Cheryl Archbold, endured immense distress after Beatrix suffered a cardiac arrest at merely 16 months old.
In 2018, they tragically lost their daughter Isabelle, who was stillborn. They donated Isabelle’s heart for medical research. Beatrix, who turned three in January, received her heart transplant in June 2023 after spending 14 months on the waiting list at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, where another notable campaigner underwent a heart transplant.
Beatrix spent an exciting day with the Durham firefighting crews, enjoying activities such as riding on fire engines, using hoses, and ascending on the aerial ladder platform.
Beatrix Adamson-Archbold, 4, underwent a heart transplant in June 2023, and got the chance to be a firefighter for the day to mark Organ Donation Week https://t.co/kqeTHWriNE
— The Journal (@TheJournalNews) September 23, 2024
She returned home a month post-transplant and is now relishing life once more. Terry, from Burnopfield, Co Durham, described her visit to Durham Red Watch, part of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS), as a ‘special day’ for Beatrix.
“The crew was absolutely amazing with her,” he said. “She went up on the aerial ladder platform and waved down without any fear.” Beatrix’s family continues to champion the importance of organ donation and supports the Change the Law for Life campaign.
Crew manager Mark Bryden remarked, “After learning about Beatrix’s story and her fascination with the fire service, we wanted to invite her to the station to experience being a firefighter for a day.” The campaign on organ donation led to the implementation of Max and Keira’s Law in 2020, named after Max and his heart donor, Keira Ball, who died in a car accident in Barnstaple, Devon, in 2017.
Individuals can confirm their organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. For more information and to confirm your decision, visit the NHS Organ Donor Register. On 20 May 2020, the organ donation law in England changed to enable more lives to be saved. Now, there is “presumed consent,” though families are still consulted before the donation proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Beatrix Adamson-Archbold?
Beatrix is a young girl who received a heart transplant and became a firefighter for a day.
How long did Beatrix wait for her heart transplant?
Beatrix waited 14 months for her heart transplant.
What did Beatrix do at the fire station?
Beatrix drove fire engines, squirted hoses, and went up on the aerial ladder platform.
What is Max and Keira’s Law?
Max and Keira’s Law is an organ donation law introduced in 2020, allowing presumed consent for organ donation.
How can I register to be an organ donor?
You can register on the NHS Organ Donor Register to confirm your decision to donate organs after death.
