Parents of UK's youngest ever organ donor: 'We wanted our son to make a difference'

The parents of the UK's youngest organ donor have spoken about the decision to donate their son Teddy's kidneys when he died just 100 minutes after he was born.

Speaking to ITV News, Jess Evans said: "It was just a very natural process. It was just the next step... when we finally accepted that we were going to lose him."

Ms Evans was 12 weeks' pregnant with twins when she was told one of her babies had a anencephaly, a rare and fatal condition which prevents the brain and skull from developing.

She and her fiance Mike Houlston were told Teddy would either be stillborn or die shortly afterwards. They were offered the option of an abortion but decided to continue with the pregnancy.

Mr Houlston said: "We didn’t really have to think much about it, it was like who do we go to, which box do we tick for that to happen. We wanted our son to make a difference, that was the main thing for us."

Teddy's parents also said although they did not know what to expect they were determined to see things through.

"We really didn’t know what to expect. And all the medical professionals that we came into contact with felt very much the same.

"Even though we thought the percentage of it actually happening was so slim. We were quietly confident", Ms Evans added.

Mr Houlston said: "We knew Teddy had more to give. Throughout the pregnancy he was just moving so much and we just knew that he had that fight in him. We never doubted him."

It is extremely rare for newborns to be considered as donors and Angharad Griffiths of NHS Blood and Transplant, said the couple "never wavered" once they made their decision.

"From the moment I met them, they were so passionate about organ donation and so accepting that this was new for us, and all the information we had to give them they took in their stride. They never wavered about organ donation."