DonateLife: Donated heart has given young Ellie Martin a second chance at life

Diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition as a newborn, another family’s selfless gift gave young Ellie Martin the heart she needed for a bright future.

Back home with a new heart, three and-a-half-year-old Ellie Martin has a zest for life and an appetite for adventure that astounds her parents daily. It’s a far cry from the 420 days she spent in hospital, after being rushed onto life support a few weeks after birth.

Diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cardiomyopathy, her heart wasn’t strong enough to pump blood around her body, leaving palliative care, or a heart transplant, as the only options. Ellie was moved from Sydney to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, where she spent most of her first year tethered to a heart pump, unable to leave her room for more than an hour a day.

Ellie Martin, 3, with parents Kylie and Andrew Martin, returned to Sydney after relocating to Melbourne where she had a heart transplant. Picture: Cassandra Hannagan

Nine months after going on the waiting list for a new heart, her parents got the news they had been hoping for. “

It’s hard to articulate the emotions,” mum Kylie Martin said.

“I was acutely aware of what another family would be going through for us to be getting this. We were in a ward with other children who were all waiting for a heart. It was hard not to feel guilty.

Heart transplant recipient Ellie Martin waking after her lifesaving surgery at the Royal Childrens Hospital. Picture: Jason Edwards

After a 16-hour surgery and three-week recovery, Ellie was finally able to leave hospital.

“She has gone from strength-to-strength,” Ms Martin said.

The family recently returned to Sydney’s Northern Beaches to restart the life they had put on hold. With her health stable, Ellie is catching up on developmental milestones with gusto, enjoying play dates, playgrounds and exploring outdoors.

“Her enthusiasm and energy is absolutely infectious,” dad Andrew Martin said.

“When you take her outdoors she is full of wonder and brings a smile to anyone she comes into contact with. For us, coming out of hospital has been our first experience of parenting. We really didn’t know what life as a parent was like in the real world.”

Ellie Martin with her parents Kylie and Andrew in the early days after receiving her new heart. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ellie will need to take immunosuppressant medication for the rest of her life to ensure her new heart isn’t rejected, but is otherwise able to lead a full and healthy life.

Forever grateful to the stranger who has given Ellie a second chance, Mr Martin said anyone who would be willing to receive a donated organ should consider signing up as a donor themselves.

“We used to see it as a piece of personal admin you never quite got around to, but making this decision can literally give someone life,” Ms Martin said. “We’ll never be able to thank them properly. It’s the most precious, beautiful gift.”