Baby Henry given hope with 'most precious' new heart

A mother has recorded the emotional final beats of her tiny baby’s heart immediately after he was given a new one in a life-saving transplant operation.

It was the incredible moment that Mollie and Sam Dolan had been waiting for since baby Henry was born, 12 weeks premature and with two chronic heart problems.

Mrs Dolan has documented her son’s medical journey on Facebook, culminating with a series of photos and videos of Henry’s operation at a hospital in Minnesota, USA.

In the remarkable video – titled ‘Watch closely and you can still see the heart beating - the fragile life-giving organ sits inside a plain, white plastic container and pulses in and out several times, heading for expiry.

“Wow! Just wow!” wrote Mrs Dolan, before posting another picture, this time of Henry's new heart being stitched into place.

It is “our most precious gift” she added.

The couple had been waiting for five months for a potential new heart for Henry.

Henry weighed just 1.2kgs and measured a mere 38.1cm when he was born.

Two heart conditions - truncus arteriosus and mitral artesia – were a major threat to his life.

Mrs Dolan was overwhelmed with joy and sadness on receiving news a heart had become available to Henry.

“Oh my goodness! I have no words. Please be praying for us and the donor family as we know they are going through unimaginable grief,” she wrote.

“How amazing that they have chosen to give a life! Wow!”

The most recent photo on the Hope for Henry Facebook page shows Mrs Dolan standing over her sleeping son, who is covered with various tubes, listening to his new heart.

“What I've witnessed today, is nothing short of a miracle. A miracle given to us, by a family who is enduring tremendous heartache and pain. What incredible strength they must possess,” she said.