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A 'miracle' baby boy who desperately needed a new heart has died aged 24 days, his heartbroken parents have confirmed.

Little Carter Cookson's parents had made a last-ditch plea for help after being told he had days to live without a donor organ.

But tonight, his mum Sarah confirmed the brave boy had died.

She posted on Facebook: "RIP Carter John Cookson.

"Today he could not fight anymore... at 5.44pm our brave baby boy Carter John Cookson gained his angel wings and flew into his big brother's arms.

"We are heart broken....our two boys are in heaven without their Mammy and Daddy we feel so empty and our hearts will never recover."

(Image: Iain Buist)

Sarah and partner Chris's first son Charlie had passed away aged two in 2012.

The couple had appealed for help for Carter, knowing they faced losing him if they didn't find a donor immediately.

Sarah, 44, said earlier: "Our boy has not responded to surgery and the only way he will now survive is if we can find him a donor heart.

"We have already lost one son and if we can’t find a donor straight away, we now face the prospect of losing our second beautiful baby boy. It’s just the most terrible experience imaginable.

"I just hope there may be some family out there who can identify with our heartbreak and may be able to help."

The couple, from South Shields, Tyneside, had kept a round-the-clock vigil at Carter's bedside at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

They joined the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign that will make everyone a potential donor unless they choose to opt out.

Chris, 40, told us last week: “If our prayers are not answered I won’t get to take him home and do what every daddy wants to do: simply raise a son the best he can.

"Every day that goes by is a day less I have to find a heart for my son."

Messages of support have flooded in on social media for the grieving parents.



Cheryl Reah said: "So sorry for your loss. Absolutely heartbroken for you. RIP Carter. Fly high with Charlie. Sleep tight beautiful boy."

Corrina Danby said: Life is so cruel, thinking of you all at this devastating time, r.i.p Carter xxx

Little Carter was born prematurely at the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) on December 26 after a trouble-free pregnancy.

He suffered three cardiac arrests within hours of his birth.

When he was just a week old, the youngster underwent surgery to drain one side of his heart and attach a pacemaker.

(Image: ncjMedia Ltd)

But sadly, the op wasn't as successful as his family had hoped - and doctors said heart transplant is his only hope.

Before his death, Carter was hooked up to an Ecmo machine, which was pumping blood around his small body.

His dad urged others to back the Mirror's campaign.

“What I have learnt over the last two weeks has brought to my mind the ­importance of organ donation, how many lives could be saved if the law was different," said Chris, who works for John Lewis.

(Image: SWNS)

"Hearts need to be matched by size" NHS Blood and Transplant is ­responsible for allocating donated organs in the UK. The body says there are eight babies under 24 months on the active waiting list for a heart. Its lead nurse for paediatric donation, Angie Scales, said: “We hope Carter gets the heart transplant he so desperately needs. “Hearts need to be matched by size for a successful transplant. For many young children, their only hope is to receive one from another young child. “Losing a child is a tragedy, but we know many parents take comfort in saving lives through organ donation. “There are many children alive today thanks to parents making that decision. “But sadly, hundreds of adults and ­children die every year due to the shortage of donated organs. We urge people to join the NHS Donor Register.”

“Unless you are in a position when a loved one’s life depends on an organ donor, I don’t think you will ­understand how important it is to make changes to ensure we have a greater chance of saving lives in the future.

“I can only hope anyone reading this never goes through what I’m going through right now.”

Dance teacher Sarah added: “It’s just such a hard message for us to put out.

“For what we call a miracle to happen, someone else will have to go through ­something terrible to give us that gift.

“No parent in either set of ­circumstances wants to be there.”

(Image: Cookson Family / SWNS)

The couple's son Charlie died seven years ago after being born with a ­condition that compromised his immune system.

It was unrelated to Carter’s illness.

The parents have since set up a charity, the Charlie Cookson Foundation, in his memory and have dedicated their time to helping other families going through difficult times.

The organisation has so far helped 59 families of sick children.