Kaylee Davidson-Olley

Kaylee Davidson-Olley (born 1987) was the United Kingdom's first successful heart transplant baby when she received a replacement heart at less than one year of age. In 2017 she celebrated her 30th year after the transplant operation; it was her 30th year as the longest surviving heart transplant baby in Europe. The operation was performed by cardiothoracic surgeon, Christopher McGregor at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, which became one of only two UK centres performing transplants in children, and the main hospital in the UK carrying out transplants for adults born with congenital heart disease.

She went on to become an advocate of the organ donor register and in 2013 won the gold medal for the 4 × 100 metres relay race at the World Transplant Games.

Early life Kaylee Davidson-Olley was born in 1987. She was raised in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham. Her mother is Carol Olley.

As an infant, she was diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy and for six weeks prior to her heart transplant, was severely ill in the Freeman Hospital's intensive care unit. when Davidson-Olley was either four or five months old. McGregor had previously transplanted a heart into an adult woman in May 1985, the recipient surviving for 25 years. Subsequently, the Freeman Hospital became one of only two centres in Britain performing transplants on children, and the main hospital in Britain carrying out transplants for adults born with congenital heart disease.

In 2017, Davidson-Olley observed the 30th anniversary of the heart transplant procedure and her 30th year as the longest surviving heart transplant baby in Europe.

In May 2019, Davidson-Olley was named as one of four local heroes that had their name cast in a bronze plaque, to be placed permanently by the River Tyne. The following year, she appealed for the public to adhere to social distancing rules during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.