THE mum of child who will need a lifesaving blood transfusion just days before Christmas is backing an NHS call for donors to make and keep their festive appointments.

The NHS is urging donors to make an appointment to donate blood over the Christmas and new year period if they don’t already have one, and to keep their appointment if they have already.

Donors are vital to help build blood stocks ahead of a potentially challenging winter period.

Five-year-old Archie Flintoft of Harrogate has relied on donors to keep him alive since he was a baby. He has Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, a rare condition which means he can’t make his own red blood cells.

He needs blood every three weeks and will receive his 59th transfusion a week before Christmas Day.

His mum Vicky, 38, said: “Archie is a typical five-year-old. He’s a massive fan of superheroes and a real livewire. To look at him you’d never know there was anything wrong.

“Archie knows his bones don’t make blood so he needs blood from other people. Before a transfusion he is unsettled and bad tempered, but once he has that good blood in him the happy, lively little boy who loves cuddles is back. Blood changes everything for Archie – It is literally his lifeline.”

Vicky, who lives in Harrogate with husband Dean and their seven-year-old daughter Holly, added: “Before Archie I thought blood was only needed in emergencies.

"Now I know there are many people like him with life-threatening conditions who depend on blood all year round, even at Christmas.

“I cannot put my gratitude to blood donors into words.

"Without them, my son wouldn’t have left hospital as a baby. Donors give him life – they are superheroes in my eyes.

"I would especially thank those who make the extra effort to donate over Christmas to help people like Archie.”

This winter, NHS Blood and Transplant needs donors who are fit and healthy to help it keep blood stocks strong to support hospitals through a second wave of covid-19 as well as seasonal pressures.

At this time of year however, colds, flu and severe weather can make it hard for donors to attend, while this winter could be particularly challenging with the extra impact of covid-19 infections.

An extra 1,500 units of blood is currently needed every week and extra appointments have been added across the country to help meet this need as well as the challenge of social distancing on sessions where there is less opportunity to collect as much blood.