Watch Elliott and Marley reunite after becoming close friends at GOSH

Aged two and seven, the boys bonded while waiting for heart transplants at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Two stars of The Independent's Christmas appeal who became best friends after sharing a ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital have been reunited.

Seven-year-old Marley Scott and two-year-old Elliott Livingstone hadn’t seen each other since Marley was discharged after a heart transplant in October.

Despite their age difference the pair became inseparable while they were both on artificial heart machines.

Elliott is still awaiting a transplant, and due to an infection was unable to have visitors. Over the last few weeks, Marley has had to send him video messages instead. They met for the first time in weeks after the hospital arranged a surprise birthday celebration for Elliott’s mother Candace on the cardiac ward.

Marley’s mother Joanne Scott and Candace are also friends, and the families are an example of the intense relationships formed at the hospital. Candace, 32, said: “My friends are really supportive but nobody else really knows what it is like apart from Joanne. She has been through the same thing we have.”

Elliott Livingstone and Marley Scott had been talking to each other via video messages after Marley's heart transplant meant he could return home (Jenny Marc)

Joanne said she has felt isolated since Marley was discharged because his low immune system often stops them from leaving their home in Dagenham.

While at the hospital she and Marley took comfort from the type of support programmes that The Independent's Give to Gosh campaign will help fund. This includes play specialists who design activities to make life as normal as possible for children, and who helped to organise Candace’s party. “It is so nice to come back to the hospital,” Joanne said. “It doesn’t sound normal but it just feels like home. It is like a big family.”

The trip to see Elliott provided a big boost for Marley, who is feeling bored at home. Joanne said: “Seeing Elliott will really help him keep his spirits up. It is hard to keep him occupied.”

The Independent is following Elliott and Marley’s progress throughout the Give to Gosh campaign. Marley is due to have a biopsy before Christmas to see if his new heart is showing any signs of rejection. Joanne said: “That is a big thing for us, it is on my mind. We want to get that over with and get a good result and then think about relaxing.”

If the results are good Marley will be able to take fewer immunosuppressant drugs, which means he will be able to socialise more.

When he saw Elliott in hospital he sang him a song he used to sing when they were in adjacent beds. Candace said: “After Marley left hospital the other children tried to sing Elliott the song, but Elliott just cried. When he saw Marley, Elliott had a big smile on his face.”

To find out more about why we're supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital go to: http://ind.pn/1MycZkr

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