A hero County Durham police officer is looking to raise awareness and funds for child organ donation, as his 15-month-old daughter desperately awaits a heart transplant.
Sergeant Terry Archbold, who works within the Stanley Neighbourhood Beat Team, is continuously campaigning for a change that will benefit his daughter Beatrix, who is desperately ill.
Earlier this year, little Beatrix fell ill suddenly, and after a series of tests, she was diagnosed with heart failure.
She then suffered a cardiac arrest during major surgery to attach her to a Berlin heart, which is a mechanical device which functions like a heart, but doctors still managed to save her life.
Read more: Northumberland ASDA worker praised for driving customer 60 miles to hospital
However, the toddler and her family now face the agonising wait for a suitable heart, which could take years.
Until the moment arrives for Beatrix to have a new heart, she cannot leave the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle.
Following Beatrix’s diagnosis, her dad, mum Cheryl and sister Eliza are keen to raise awareness of child organ donation and campaign for change.
This campaign is supported by Terry’s colleagues, who on their recent day off climbed Ben Nevis, in Scotland, to raise vital funds for The Red Sky Foundation – a charity which supports families of youngsters who need vital cardiac care.
A fundraising page set up in Beatrix’s name has already raised more than £1,800 for the foundation.
Despite the 15-month-olds fight to find a heart, this is the second time the family has faced anguish.
Daughter Isabel was tragically stillborn in 2018 and the family donated her heart for medical research.
Mr Archbold said: “One day everything was normal and the next our lives were turned upside down in an unimaginable way.
“We have gone through every emotion possible, but we know we must be strong for Beatrix.
“No one would ever want to be in the position in which we find ourselves, but this is our life until a suitable heart is found for our beautiful girl.
“The staff at the Freeman Hospital have also been amazing, as has The Red Sky Foundation, which is invaluable to families like ours, we cannot thank them all enough.
“We wanted to repay their kindness by doing something that allows them to continue to help others in our position.
“I am so grateful to my team for wanting to get involved, to do what they have done means so much.
“Beatrix is a fighter and that gives us hope.”
A spokesperson for Durham Police added: “On Monday we completed our challenge and reached the summit of Ben Nevis to spread Terry’s message about child organ donation from the highest mountain in the UK.
“We arrived on the summit tired but determined, then out of the clouds appeared none other than Terry himself, he had climbed the mountain before us to be there when we got to the top to support us. We could not believe it and there may have been a tear or two.
“We are so grateful to everyone who has donated to this fundraiser and all we ask is that you spread the word about Child Organ Donation – please, have the discussion.”
You can donate to Beatrix’s fundraiser here.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here