A MUM from Sale is at last looking to the future - after a successful transplant for her nine-year-old son, who spent months living with a serious heart condition, writes Stephen Topping.

Max Johnson, from Winsford, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy last December after being rushed to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital after collapsing with a racing heartbeat.

The condition left the youngster waiting for heart transplant at Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he is now living with his mum Emma at Scott House – a ‘home from home’ in Newcastle run by the Sick Children’s Trust.

With Max now well on the road to recovery following his recent transplant, Emma hopes the whole family can be reunited at home in the next fortnight.

Emma, who grew up in Sale but now lives in Winsford, said: “Max is doing really well – he’s so energetic.

“He’s been in Newcastle now since December 8, so it has been a really long time and we’re looking forward to coming home and being back as a family with [dad] Paul and [older brother] Harry.

“People back at home have been congratulating us and excited for us – they’ve been as relieved as we have that our wishes have come true.

“They have been so kind to us as a family and have really supported us through a difficult time.”

For the first three months following his transplant, Max will have few visitors as his immune system continues to build back up, while he will also return to Newcastle for a check-up once a week after returning to Winsford.

But both his family and medical staff are pleased with Max’s recovery, and his attention will soon be on returning to school for the first time in almost a year before Christmas.

“We haven’t made plans too far in advance just yet, but it will be lovely to be able to have Christmas together this year,” said Emma, a former pupil at Sale Grammar School.

“Everyone is happy with his recovery. He is making jokes, his appetite has come back, and his face is beaming once again.”

The Messenger is backing a petition run by the Daily Mirror calling on the Government to adopt an opt-out transplant donor scheme in England, which was inspired by Max’s story.

Emma added: “The wait for a donor is horrible – you don’t know if it will take three months, six months, a year or longer.

“A change in the law could mean more transplants are made before it is too late for people who are on the waiting list.

“We are so grateful to Max’s donor, their family, the medical staff and the Sick Children’s Trust.”