In July 2024, Florina Racheru was on vacation in Romania with her daughter Maya, who suddenly fell seriously ill. Despite Maya appearing lively, she began experiencing fatigue, paleness, difficulty breathing, and stomach pain. Concerned, Florina, a new nurse, rushed Maya to the emergency room where tests revealed her heart was only functioning at 20%.
Tragically, Maya suffered a stroke and later went into cardiac arrest, causing her heart to stop beating for several minutes. Following this, she was transferred to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where doctors suspected a rare neuromuscular disease affecting her heart. Without a heart transplant, Maya’s chances of survival were slim.
Despite recent legislation supporting organ donation opt-in, statistics have shown a concerning trend. Organ transplants have decreased by 3%, and donors are down by 7% in the UK according to NHS Blood and Transplant data from April 2024 to March 2025. This highlights the ongoing need for more donors to register.
After a long wait, Maya received a life-saving heart transplant last spring. Following a successful surgery that lasted 12 hours, Maya recovered well and is now undergoing regular check-ups at GOSH. Despite some physical challenges, she is making progress and preparing to return to school soon.
Florina expressed her gratitude for the support received from GOSH Charity during Maya’s hospitalization and recovery. She emphasized the importance of organ donation registration and called for increased funding to assist children with rare conditions like Maya’s. GOSH Charity’s Director of Impact echoed the importance of specialized care and research into rare childhood diseases.
An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson highlighted the significance of people confirming their support for organ donation, noting that most individuals honored their family members’ decisions about donation. The spokesperson encouraged individuals to register their decision or discuss their wishes with family members.
To register as an organ donor or for more information about Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision or gosh.org, respectively.