The parents of an 11-week-old baby who needs a heart transplant have urged people to consider organ donation.

William Jones, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was born in May with a condition that affects his heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.

He is currently on a ventilator. Great Ormond Street Hospital London.

William’s mother, Laura Osborne, 35, said they were relying on a donation from the family of another baby because “William has no future without a heart transplant.”

Williams’ condition is called dilated cardiomyopathy. The disease causes the walls of the heart’s chambers to expand and thin, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body.

According to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), he is currently the youngest child in the UK on the waiting list for a heart transplant.

A donor would need to be the same size and weight as the 11-week-old baby.

Angie Scales, the NHSBT’s lead nurse for paediatric organ donation, acknowledged that saving William would be a tragedy for another family.

“For William and many other children awaiting a life-saving transplant, their only hope is that the parents of another child will agree to donate organs at a time of great grief and personal bereavement.

“Losing a child is incredibly tragic and difficult.”

However, she said it could also offer some comfort.

“Families of young organ donors tell us that they can find comfort in knowing that their child’s donation saved a life.”

Mrs Osborne said: “I have been registered as an organ donor for a long time but I had never thought until now that children could donate.

“William has a lot against him, I don’t know if my baby will survive or not.

“But he’s here, you can see the fighting spirit in him and we’re trying to give him the best life we ​​can.

“We still get smiles and he is playful when he is awake. He shows us that he wants to survive,” she said.

William is the first child of Mrs Osborne and her partner Stuart Jones, 43.

The couple is living in hospital accommodation to be close to their baby.

After the emergency caesarean section, William was able to go home at the age of 10 days.

However, his parents noticed that he was very sleepy and had difficulty drinking, so they took him to the hospital again three weeks later, where the disease was diagnosed.

Ms Osborne added that a transplant was the “only option” for her son.

“We really miss him, we had a few weeks at home and he was a real joy,” she added.

“He’s funny and has these little frowns and expressions – he’s cheeky. We want him back home.”

“I can’t hold him for long and it’s heartbreaking. We are terrified that his condition could worsen at any time.”

“This is the only way to save his life.

“We could wait a year, two years or more. He may not make it to the transplant, but we’re going to keep going – he needs a transplant,” she said.

According to NHSBT, there are currently more than 7,000 people in the UK waiting for an organ transplant, including 250 children.

Of these, almost 300 require a heart transplant, including about 38 children.

Ms Scales said: “We urge parents to think and talk about organ donation for themselves and their families today.

“Your decision could help save lives.”