A young girl from County Durham who received a lifesaving organ transplant and multiple blood transfusions is set to feature in a Christmas TV special this weekend.
Beatrix Adamson Archbold, three, from Burnopfield, affectionately known as Bea, will appear on the Casualty Christmas special on Saturday, December 21 to raise awareness of blood and organ donation.
Bea was rushed into hospital with suspected Covid in May 2022, but it was actually heart failure. Her parents were faced with the shock news that Bea would need a heart transplant and she was fitted with a mechanical Berlin Heart at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle to keep her alive while she waited.
During the 14 agonising months before she finally received her transplant, Bea also needed regular blood transfusions to keep her alive during her time on the waiting list to boost her low blood counts and keep her healthy and strong enough to remain on the waiting list. At those times when blood was needed, Bea would become sleepy and lethargic, with the donated blood giving her a much-needed vital energy boost.
Now dad Terry is encouraging others to consider organ and blood donation this Christmas, highlighting how these lifesaving gifts can make a real difference for those in need.
He said: “Seeing Bea today running around and living her life to the full, is just amazing but we are always aware that this wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of so many strangers – not just the incredible family who said yes when they were asked about donation at that most difficult of times – but each and every blood donor who helped ensure the blood was always there when she needed it.
“We will always be so grateful and continue to do everything we can to help raise awareness and encourage more people to donate.”
Since her heart transplant, inspirational Bea has been a firefighter for a day and also inspired a Christmas charity single recorded at a Newcastle Studio.
The NHS has released key messages for the winter period about blood and organ donation.
They said: “Over the Christmas period especially, the amount of blood collected can drop, while hospital demand remains high. Currently England remains in Amber Alert for O negative and O positive blood. There is a particular need for more O negative, B negative and donors of Black heritage.
“We especially need more O negative donors to come forward – O negative donors are called ‘first responders’ as their blood is used for all patients in emergency situations. There is particular need for more younger people to start donating, and 200,000 new donors are needed each year to replace those no longer able to donate.”
Bea, Terry, and mum Cheryl will appear in the Casualty Christmas Special which highlights the miracle of blood, airing on Saturday, December 21. The episode, which will be available on BBC iPlayer at 6am and on BBC One at 9.20pm. NHS Blood and Transplant advised the Casualty producers on this special episode which was inspired by the importance of blood and blood donation to help save lives.
