A YOUNG family, whose "superhero" eight-year-old son has a rare heart condition, are hoping to raise awareness after he was placed on an urgent transplant list.

Oscar Wainwright, 8, from Wibsey, was born with Hypoplastic Heart Syndrome and has already had heart surgery at his young age.

The illness happens when the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped, meaning the right side must pump blood to the lungs and rest of the body.

The eight-year-old was put on the routine transplant list at four and lived happily at home until two weeks ago.

He went for one of his six-monthly checks in Newcastle on July 28 and was added to the urgent transplant list.

Mum, Tiffany Gilmartin, 28, said: "I mean, it's been stressful over the whole eight years really, but the last couple of months have been hectic.

"We had a normal clinic appointment and they just said obviously he's deteriorated and needed to be seen urgently."

Oscar was taken into Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and had CT scans, an echo (echocardiogram - a graphic outline of the heart's movement) and was put on an IV.

He will remain there until a heart becomes available, which could be days, weeks, months or even years.

Ms Gilmartin said: "I don't think he quite understands it.

"He's used to going to hospital, but he's not just going for a couple of days; a couple of weeks, a couple of months, a year.

"He's just waiting on the offer of an organ."

There are "quite a few" other children on the heart transplant list and Ms Gilmartin said the procedures have slowed during the pandemic, to her knowledge.

She explained that getting a heart at Oscar's age "doesn't happen often", particularly as it is still the parents' choice whether someone under the age of 18 is on the donor's list.

The mother of three said the family have had to made certain arrangements with a hospice, if the worst case scenario was to unfold and a organ was not available in time.

But she added that they are feeling hopeful that they have time.

Ms Martin and her partner, Nathan Wainwright, 31, are having to juggle looking after their two youngest children - six-year-old Maisy and seven-month old Oakley - and being at the hospital.

Both parents spend four days at a time with Oscar, due to Covid restrictions, before swapping and seeing their other two children at home.

Neither of Oscar's siblings are able to see their brother in the current climate and this has led to some difficult conversations.

Ms Gilmartin admitted Maisy once said to her: "My family is broken up."

The 28-year-old said: "It's hard, the littlest probably doesn't realise.

"His face lights up when he sees you after our swaps - you can't explain to him.

"My daughter is quite clever and understands."

"She's not allowed to see him at all, it's just me and his dad.

"We try do a few days each, because it's not close.

"His dad will have to go back to work at some point, he's only on sick."

The family have used social media for support.

Ms Gilmartin said: "There's Facebook groups, Little Heart Matters and Heart Transplant Matters UK.

"I just post on there, 'can I have positive stories on there of children who have got an organ'".

Ms Gilmartin also heaped praise on The Sick Children's Trust, which has provided accommodation next to the hospital so either parent can stay close during their stint of being with Oscar, and LGI, for giving the family a food voucher to use at Tesco and a £12 café voucher.

She added that she empathises with all families that are having to struggle through these kind of ordeals - juggling work, looking after children, going to the hospital and all the extra costs.

A friend, Jackie Davies, has set-up a page on JustGiving, to try help provide funds for the family, with Mr Wainwright having to take sick leave during the summer holidays to help look after the children and Oscar.

Ms Davies said: "Now to the reason for fund raising.

"His parents, Nathan and Tiffany, are very very proud and do not want to ask for help, I therefore thought I would try to do a little on their behalf and I would like to stress they are reluctant to do this but I am hoping my friends and family may be in a position to help a little."

The target of the fundraiser is £1,000 and that was met in three days of it being set-up.

If you would like to help, you can visit the page at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jackie-davies-3