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Nine-year-old boy returns home with a new heart!

Dáithí with his family. From left to right - a woman white dark hair is wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans and carrying a handbag, a young boy with blonde hair carrying a Stitch teddy bear is being held by a man with short brown hair wearing sunglasses, a cream Giants t-shirt and blue jeans, Dáithí has short brown hair, wearing a white long sleeve Liverpool jersey, a man with dark hair is wearing a pink GAA jersey and black trousers and carrying a young boy wearing a blue and white top, navy shorts and trainers.

Nine-year-old Dáithí and his family were greeted with cheers as he returned to his home in Belfast after spending weeks recovering from surgery in England

Welcome home, Dáithí!

Dáithí is from Belfast, he's nine-years-old and he has a new heart.

Dáithí has inspired changes to Northern Ireland's organ donation laws and after waiting for eight years, he received a heart transplant in July.

And now, he's back home!

Friends and neighbours cheered as he returned to Belfast after several weeks in England recovering from the surgery.

Dáithí's dad, Máirtín, said it was "absolutely incredible" to see everyone there welcoming him home.

Keep reading to find out more about Dáithí's story and to learn more about organ donation...

What is Dáithí's story?

An ambulance on a residential street. Dáithí is being helped out by a paramedic. A crowd of people are standing on the street clapping.

Crowds of people lined the street to welcome Dáithí home

Dáithí was born in 2016 with a condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. That means the left side of his heart did not form correctly.

In 2023, Dáithí's Law was introduced in Northern Ireland meaning people automatically become potential organ donors unless they say they wish not to be.

It was named Dáithí's Law, after his family spent years campaigning on the issue.

Dáithí is holding his hand up in the air. His dad Máirtín is clapping.

Dáithí's dad thanked the donor and their family and gave them an applause

Speaking on Monday as they arrived home, Máirtín said it was important to "thank the donor family and the donor, to show our gratitude and to give them a moment's applause".

"We don't know how we will ever repay that, but we will show gratitude for the rest of our lives," he said.

"Dáithí's donor and their families, they've saved so much more than Dáithí, they've saved our whole family, our friends and the whole community around us," he said.

What is organ donation?

Organ donation is a process where an organ, like a heart, kidney or liver, is removed from one person and given to another person who needs it.

If someone donates one or more of their organs, this could help save other people's lives.

Although it's possible for a person to donate certain organs while they're still alive, most organ and tissue donations will come from people who've died.

Why would someone need a transplant?

There are a number of reasons why someone might need an organ transplant.

Some require a donation because a particular organ or organs don't work, or they may have been damaged as a result of a disease or injury.

A person's faith, beliefs and culture may impact how they view organ donation and whether they choose to be a donor or not.

Personal beliefs about organ donation are always respected whatever they may be.