Kirsty Howard
Kirsty was born with her heart back to front, so all other organs are misplaced. Kirsty has a single pumping heart chamber and has had nine Cardiac procedures. Her day-to-day living is severely restricted by abnormal blood vessels developing in her lung. Kirsty is unique, and the only child in Great Britain (in fact there has only been one other child in the World) with her condition. Kirsty was given six weeks to live in February 1999. Thank God she is still here, and we pray each day for a miracle.
Kirsty is one in 60 million children who suffer from a condition that is so rare, it doesn't even have a name.
Kirsty has already raised over £3.5 million. Despite being terminally ill she battles on, and her inspirational bravery motivates us all.
A national inspiration
Kirsty's courage inspired the England football team. As their mascot, she walked hand in hand with David Beckham onto the Old Trafford pitch with her 45lb oxygen tank trailing behind her. Broadcasters paid tribute to the bravest person of the afternoon. Millions of people heard her amazing story and were moved to tears.
In the February of last year Kirsty met and charmed Prime Minister Tony Blair. She was given the full tour, followed by afternoon tea with Tony and Cherie Blair, who also introduced her to their son Leo. Our hope was to gain some promised funding. Nothing so far!
Kirsty was chosen as a Child of Courage last December, and Victoria Beckham presented her to Cherie Blair to receive her medal. Also Victoria and Kirsty once opened the famous Harrods Sale. Kirsty was also chosen to receive a Pride of Britain Award, which was televised in March 2002.
Kirsty has been a chosen subject for the Trevor McDonald Tonight Programme. Her full documentary has been shown twice.
I can think of no other little girl that has achieved so much in such a fragile little lifetime. On July 25th 2002, Kirsty was chosen to hand the final baton to Her Majesty the Queen. This was to celebrate the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. She stood centre stage to receive her baton from her hero David Beckham, which made front page news around the World. Kirsty's Appeal for £5 million will help many other very poorly children in the future, and be an everlasting legacy to her bravery.
Susie Mathis
Campaign Coordinator