Heart-Swap Girl Is Home After A Year In Hospital

BY Nicola Woolcock

Margaux Bride, whose life was saved by a transplant after her heart twice stopped beating, spent Christmas at home after making a full recovery from the operation that transformed her life nine months ago.

The 23-month-old girl was in desperate need of a transplant in March but no suitable heart could be found.

The Times drew attention to her plight, which came as the number of donors dropped after disclosures about the retention of organs at the Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool.

Doctors gave Margaux only hours to live before a donor was found in Norway, which enabled a successful operation to be performed.

She is now a healthy child living in Paris with her French mother Claude and British father, Martin Bride, and her elder brother.

Her parents, who used to live in Tooting, South London, hope that their daughter's recovery will comfort those awaiting transplants this Christmas. "The doctors are amazed by Margaux's progress. We want to send a message of hope to patients waiting for transplants: don't give up," Mme Bride said.

"We would also like everyone to think about organ donation and about carrying a donor card. It's an important thing to discuss.

"Margaux is doing fantastically well. She's crawling, standing up and trying to walk. She's very active and cheeky - just full of life.

"She started to talk a few months ago, and says a few words in both English and French.

"She is delayed compared with other children her age, but that is understandable, seeing as she spent a year in hospital."

Margaux will have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life. But, her mother says, she seems to understand the importance of taking her medication.

"It tastes horrible but she takes it without complaint. The drug suppresses her immunity, which means she gets more colds than other children, but she doesn't moan about it.

"She is a normal child. She went for her first haircut this weekend and loves her dolls. She calls them her babies. She eats and drinks normally now. Before, she was fed through a tube.

"We want to thank everyone who supported us through this. We had hundreds of letters after our appeal in The Times.

"I think about the donor family every day. I am very sorry for their little girl. She can never be replaced and I'm sorry for their loss."

Mme Bride said of Margaux: "It's hard to believe she's so well now. It seems like her transplant happened ages ago. I'm so happy. We absolutely adore her."

Copyright © 2001 Times Newspapers Ltd.

This article posted February 11, 2002.