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

William Jones, born in May, suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy.

The disease causes the walls of the heart’s chambers to expand and thin, impairing the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body.

William is the youngest child in the UK on the waiting list for a heart transplant, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), and is currently on a ventilator at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

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

William’s mother Laura Osborne, 35, from Hemel Hempstead, said: ‘I have been registered as an organ donor for a long time but it never occurred to me that children could donate.

“We now need a family’s consent to donate – William has no future without a heart transplant.

“Hearts the size of William’s don’t come around very often.

“We hope that people will see his story and think about organ donation.”

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

The couple is currently 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.”

“This is the only way to save his life.

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

“It was a big shock. I had a feeling something was wrong, but I didn’t think it was anything that serious – maybe lactose intolerance or something with his stomach.

“I just couldn’t get him to feed, he fell asleep.

“We are terribly afraid that his condition could worsen at any time.

“Our feelings range from hope to hopelessness.

“We try to establish a routine and live for the cuddles and playful waking times.

“I can’t hold him for long and it’s heartbreaking.

“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 possible.

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

Angie Scales, lead nurse for children’s organ donation at NHSBT, said: “For William and many other children awaiting a life-saving transplant, their only hope is that the parents of another child will agree to organ donation at a time of great grief and personal bereavement.

“Losing a child is incredibly tragic and difficult.

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

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

“Your decision could help save lives.”

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, about 38 of whom are children.