Donna Brady with her son Romeo

THE mother of a seven-year-old boy with a rare heart condition is determined to fulfil his wish to see dolphins after being told further operations are no longer possible.

Donna Brady’s son Romeo had his first surgery when he was just three days old after being born with his heart on the right side of his chest instead of his left.

He’s had a heart bypass and a pacemaker fitted but doctors at Great Ormond Street have now told her she should make the next 12 months “extra special”.

“His lungs aren’t properly connected to his heart,” said Ms Brady, who lives in Primrose Hill. “The vessels are so, so small that the oxygen’s not getting through. I’ve got to squash so much into whatever time we have and make it as fun as I possibly can.”

Romeo manages his condition with nine daily medications. He often uses a wheelchair and can only walk short distances before becoming breathless, sometimes turning a little blue.

Even a simple cold can be dangerous, so he is home-schooled for an hour a day to protect him from infection. The condition isn’t genetic and Ms Brady said: “Doctors don’t like to say ‘bad luck’ – but that’s what it is.”

Despite everything, Romeo is bright, funny and fiercely curious. His mother said he talks about animals with the confidence of a seasoned zookeeper and can name almost every dinosaur. He recites the wives of Henry VIII in seconds, and insists his heart condition gives him “awesome superpowers”.

Romeo also has big dreams. He said he would love to be “an RSPCA worker, zookeeper and vet – basically anything with animals. I love animals.”

Ms Brady supports him day and night, waking to check his oxygen, prepare his meals, manage his medication and shield him from risk wherever she can.

“A lot of hard work is involved,” she said. “I’m not going to lie. It’s very upsetting and scary. But you have to be positive. I’m just really proud of Romeo for being so strong.”

It was six months ago when doctors at the hospital in Holborn delivered the news no parent wants to hear.

Romeo’s wish to see dolphins swim has seen Ms Brady drive him to Scotland, Ireland and Cornwall in search of them. Each time, they returned without a sighting. Next, she is planning a trip to Spain, but Romeo cannot fly, and the journey by road will take around 30 hours.

“I’ve got to bring machines, oxygen tanks, loads of medication. But I’m determined to make his dreams come true,” she said.

On Saturday evening, The Cock Tavern in Phoenix Road, Somers Town, held a fundraiser to support Romeo’s “extra special” year. There were raffles, dancing and hampers. Landlady Sheila Gavigan was “lovely and really helpful”, said Ms Brady, who also praised the team at Great Ormond Street. Another fundraiser is already being planned, and a GoFundMe page has been set up for those who cannot attend.

Ms Brady said the family has been overwhelmed by the kindness around them.

“I wanted to talk about how everyone’s come together to make Romeo’s dreams come true,” she said. “The community, the school. We just want to make sure that everyone knows how grateful we are.”

She said she still remembers the words she heard when she was pregnant. Doctors told her Romeo would never walk or talk. “But he did,” she said. “And he’s so lovely. You have to be positive.”

Romeo said: “I love dolphins, I can’t wait to see dolphins.”

The fund-raising link can be found here: www.gofundme.com/f/r2n33w-make-everymoment-count