Four-year-old Evie Doherty goes to school for the first time thanks to donated heart

Four-year-old Evie Doherty, from Colchester, will celebrate an important milestone this week when she starts primary school for the very first time.

For Evie, Mum Nicole and dad Paul this has special significance thanks to the donated heart she received last year whilst at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Evie will join many thousands of children going to school for the first time and the family are supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity’s Back to School campaign.

GOSH Charity is asking the nation to share their back to school or first day moments and support the hospital to help seriously ill children from across the UK.

Tim Johnson, Chief Executive, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity said: “Whether a child is starting school or returning to a new school year after the holidays, it’s a special time. For Evie’s parents and other parents of children at GOSH, this day is particularly poignant and will have seemed unthinkable whilst their children faced difficult times in hospital. We’re encouraging people from across the UK to share their back to school moments on social media and donate vital funds to help seriously ill children from across the UK.”

Evie’s story:

At just two years old Evie was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is decreased because its main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened. Evie’s mum Nicole said: “It was an absolute shock that day. We were told that a third of children don’t survive, a third need a heart transplant, and a third can be maintained on medication and sometimes the heart repairs itself. We just clung to the hope that Evie would be one of those who recover”.

Soon after the diagnosis Evie was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital to receive specialist treatment and be placed on an artificial heart known as a Berlin Heart whilst she waited for a donor for several months.

Today, mum Nicole expresses her gratitude to staff at the hospital and to the donor family whose “selfless decision at a terrible time” means her four-year-old daughter can go to school like thousands of other children across the country.

“Going to school is a huge milestone for Evie and it's thanks to all the incredible Great Ormond Street Hospital staff, for tirelessly fighting alongside her through her darkest days. Everyday Evie amazes us and she is growing into a beautiful, smart, caring and cheeky little girl”.

Evie will also take another challenge this year by taking part in the RBC Race for the Kids 5k family fun run this year. The special, inclusive race will see patients, families, friends and supporters come together to walk, wheel, run or scoot the 5k distance in Hyde Park on Saturday 7 October to help raise vital funds for the hospital.

This is especially momentous for Evie who unfortunately suffered several strokes due to her condition, which has had an impact on her movement, she is now receiving physio to help her rebuild her muscles. Nicole says, “RBC Race for the Kids is a really special event, we have even got a special trike for her to help her along, we will be so proud to see Evie cross the finish line”

For more information on the Back to School campaign please visit www.gosh.org/backtoschool and for more information on RBC Race for the Kids please visit www.gosh.org/raceforthekids

publicity@gosh.org or call 020 3841 3130 or out of hours on 07966 3111 86

About Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity

Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children’s healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. The hospital’s pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK with the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions. Our patients and families are central to everything we do – from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity needs to raise money to support the hospital to give children who need help the most, the best chance for life. The charity funds research into pioneering new treatments for children, provides the most up to date medical equipment, funds support services for children and their families and supports the essential rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital. You can help us to provide world class care for our patients and families. For more information visit www.gosh.org