Heart transplant for girl who told doctors: Let me die

Published on Wednesday 29 July 2009 20:40

A TEENAGE girl who decided not to have a heart transplant has undergone the life-saving operation after all.

Hannah Jones told doctors in November that she did not want a transplant, having had enough of hospital treatment. But the 14-year-old, who suffered leukaemia as a young child and has a hole in her heart, last week changed her mind after reportedly suffering kidney failure following her birthday celebrations.

The teenager was yesterday understood to be recovering at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital after having the operation. Her parents, Andrew and Kirsty Jones, are thought to be at her bedside, having travelled from the family's home in Marden, Herefordshire. The couple supported their daughter's initial decision not to have the transplant, deeming the teenager mature enough to understand the potentially life-threatening consequences.

A Great Ormond Street spokeswoman said the hospital could not comment on the case because of patient confidentiality.