The mother of an Aberdeen boy with a mechanical heart who is currently in hospital has said a taxi firm’s offer of free journeys to see her son had “saved” her Christmas.
Six-year-old Ashton Hutcheson will spend the festive season at Royal Aberdeen Children’s hospital, due to his condition – dilated cardiomyopathy – an illness which restricts the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently and can have knock-on effects to the lungs, liver and other vital organs.
His mum, Shanna Hutcheson, 24, cannot drive, and had to take taxis to visit her boy in hospital.
But now, Rainbow City Taxis have offered Miss Hutcheson free return trips to the hospital to help cover the costs of being there for her son this Christmas after one of the company’s drivers heard her story.
Miss Hutcheson said: “He went into hospital last Wednesday with a blood clot and an infection attacking his heart.
“We’ve been told he could be out by January 19 – but we’ll have to wait and see.
“On Friday, I decided to get a couple of hours away from the hospital at the bingo, so me and my partner took a taxi.
“The driver asked us about our day, and I told him it wasn’t going so well because we’re all so worried about Ashton.
“When we got there, I handed over my bank card to pay, and he told us to keep our money and buy something for our little one and have a merry Christmas.
“I insisted, but he just told me to give Ashton his best wishes.”
After hearing about their driver’s act of kindness, bosses at the taxi company offered Miss Hutcheson free trips to Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
She added: “I was totally overwhelmed. We’ve had so much support from the community.
“Rosehill chipper, the closest fish and chip shop to the hospital, has offered us free food whenever we want it – and they’ve even bought Ashton an iPad.
“I would just be lost without everyone’s help. I don’t drive, and getting good food is so hard in the hospital, so everything I’ve been worrying about is fine now.
“Our Christmas has been saved, even though we’re going to have to spend it in hospital.”
