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Heart transplant boy: Thousands see Albert Tansey switch on Christmas lights

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Thousands of people crowded the streets to see young heart transplant recipient Albert Tansey switch on the Christmas lights in his home village.

Five-year-old Albert joined in the countdown and he pressed the button to light up Burbage on Friday evening.

The youngster who is so full of life nowadays spent more than three hours among the people who had come along to join in the fun.

He posted on his Facebook page - Albert's Heart : "Wow that was a really special night. Thanks to the people who nominated me to switch the lights on.

"I had such a good time. I saw so many of my friends and I also got to play outside with my brother Fred and friend Dylan.2

"Everyone was so kind to me (as you always are)."

He also got a very special Christmas gift from Mathew Needham's Treasure Chest, a charity founded in memory of a Leicestershire lad who died from a rare heart condition.

The charity was tipped off that Albert loved Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and the family have been given tickets by the charity to see the musical at the Theatre Royal in London in February.

Albert added: "How amazing is that. Thank you again everyone."

Parents Adam and Annita are also  delighted with the transformation they have seen in Albert since he had his transplant in September.

Albert was born with half a heart and had to have open heart surgery when he was seven days old and again when he was nine months.

Albert was meant to have a third operation to help fix his heart.

However, when he was two, he had a heart attack and, in April, doctors decided not to perform the third operation.

Instead, Albert was placed on the heart transplant list and parents Adam and Annita pinned their hopes on a donor being found.

The couple founded the charity Keep the Beat to support families whose children had been born with heart defects which has raised £300,000 over the past three years.

Adam said: "When I heard Albert  had been selected to switch on the lights I was amazed and really proud. It is nice to see his bravery has been recognised by so many people. The support we received when he had his surgery and since then has been incredible.

"It was the first time Albert has been out in public apart from small gatherings as he has been in isolation. The village was mobbed. There must have been thousands in and around Windsor Street.

"Albert absolutely loved it and he is so full of life these days."

Adam added: "Before the operation we had to keep telling him to rest because his half a heart did not work properly.

"Now he is running up and down the hallway, so full of energy he never seems to get tired.

"We had a great time and Albert was there until well after 9pm."

Albert underwent surgery in Newcastle in September and was allowed home at the beginning of October.

He is in isolation at home and still has to return each Monday to Newcastle for monitoring.

His recovery has not been without its ups and down with periods of him having a temperature and feeling sick.

Adam added: "We have been raising money for charity through Keep The Beat for the past three years which has not benefitted Albert. So it was lovely for another charity the Mathew Needham's Treasure Chest to think of us."

He said that Albert was hoping to return to school some time in the New Year.

Heart transplant boy: Thousands see Albert Tansey switch on Christmas lights


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