The new law on organ donation will be called “Max’s Law” in honour of courageous Cheshire schoolboy Max Johnson.

Prime Minister Theresa May wrote a touching personal letter to the nine-year-old from Winsford to give him the news.

Max, recovering after his nine-hour heart transplant op, was “over the moon” when dad Paul read the letter to him.

Mrs May told him: “When I read your inspirational story, I knew I had to act to change the organ donation rules to an opt-out system. I also read that you thought it would be fun to name the change in the rules after you.

“I think that is a brilliant idea so, while it will have to have a bit of a boring title when it goes through Parliament, I and my Government will call it Max’s Law.”

Prime Minister Theresa May

Mrs May is to change the organ donor system in England and Ireland following a two-year campaign by our sister publication the Daily Mirror.

The Mirror been calling since 2015 for a system of presumed consent across the UK, whereby organs become available unless people decide not to take part.

Max said: “The way she has written it is really nice, I can’t believe they are going to call it Max’s Law after all.

“When it came through the letterbox, Dad opened it and said ‘Max, this is from the Prime Minister’ and then he read right the way through it for me.

“It was really exciting. It is so good that she read my story.”

Young heart transplant patient Max Johnson, aged 9, celebrating with his father Paul Johnson, at their home in Winsford
Max Johnson, aged 9, with his father Paul Johnson, at their home in Winsford

Civil servant Paul, 44, admitted he did a double take when he realised the letter came straight from No 10.

He said: “I looked at the top line and then went straight to the bottom, and saw it was signed by Theresa May.

“Max sat while I read it to him – he could not believe it. It is very humbling and a lovely gesture.

“It was perfectly pitched, and very nicely acknowledged his role in the campaign. It is something which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.”

Paul added: “I think Max has given the personal side of this issue. You can use all kinds of arguments, but this was a little boy with a devastating illness.

“I have seen people raise arguments against this law and I would say to them ‘What would your stance be if you or a loved one needed a transplant? Would you accept a donor organ?’ Just 12 months ago, we had no idea of the storm that was to hit our lives.”

Young heart transplant patient Max Johnson, aged 9, celebrates the news that Prime Minister Theresa May vows to change the law on organ donations
Young heart transplant patient Max Johnson, aged 9

Max received his new heart at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, and is now back home in Winsford.

His mum Emma said it was like receiving the news by “special decree”.

She said: “I love the language used and the way she took time out to write to him personally.

“So many people will be pleased about this change in the law – health professionals, doctors, the British Medical Association. They all supported this.”

Hundreds of Brits die needlessly every year as organs are wasted when they could save lives. More than 6,500 people are on the organ donor waiting list.