THE parents of a young boy whose life was saved thanks to a blood transfusion are supporting a vital campaign to attract more donors.

Theo Stevenson, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, needed blood and platelet transfusions during treatment and multiple surgeries for the congenital heart disorder tetralogy of fallot.

The life threatening disorder affects around three in 10,000 births and causes a range of heart of defects including holes in the heart and narrowing of arteries.

Mother Sarah, 31, who is married to Andy, a security worker, said: “Theo is a normal naughty three-year-old now. But his condition has deteriorated recently and he will need a fifth heart surgery and more blood transfusions.

“My husband and I now donate regularly now. I urge people to support the Missing Type campaign and register as new donors.”

NHS Blood and Transplant has launched its campaign to urge people to register to donate As, Bs and O types of blood to help to keep stock levels up.

Last year, 6,519 people in Teesside gave blood at least once but new donors are crucial for ensuring hospitals have the right mix of blood groups to meet patient need in the years to come. There is a particular need for more young blood donors and more black and Asian donors.

Mike Stredder, director of Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Thanks to the generosity of our current donors, hospitals have the blood needed to treat patients and there is not a crisis in blood stocks. Despite overall blood use in hospitals declining, we need more young donors to safeguard blood donation for future generations. And it’s vital the blood donor community reflects the diversity of the population because blood types vary across communities and patients need well-matched blood.

“We need people from Teesside to register today. We particularly need people with blood groups O negative, and A negative to come forward and people from black and South Asian communities.

“Don’t worry if you’ve never given blood before and don’t know what blood group you are – you find out shortly after your first donation.”

Half of all donors in England are over 45 so it is important to recruit younger people to donate blood to help meet patient needs now and in the future.

For further information or to register as a new blood donor visit www.blood.co.uk