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As I am sure many of you are aware in February 2016 I had the honour of becoming a mummy. Unfortunately our perfect little boy was born with an undiagnosed Congenital Heart Defect, called Transposition of the Great Arteries.
What is TGA?
Transposition means ‘in each other’s place’.
The Great Arteries are:
♥ The pulmonary artery, which normally carries blue (deoxygenated) blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
♥ The aorta, which normally carries red (oxygenated) blood from the left ventricle to the body.
So Transposition of the Great Arteries means that the pulmonary artery is where the aorta should be, carrying red blood from the left ventricle to the lungs, and the aorta is where the pulmonary artery should be, carrying blue blood around the body.
Our little man was taken to SCBU York at just 3 hours old and later that day transferred to Leeds General Infirmary.
On arrival at the LGI, our little man was taken straight to surgery for a Balloon Septostomy. (Another way of increasing red blood to the aorta is to make the hole between the atria bigger. This involves threading a fine tube – a catheter – through the umbilicus (belly button) or groin, into the heart and through the hole between the atria. A balloon on the end is inflated and pulled back, so that the hole is made bigger.) After 5 long hours in surgery the Balloon Septostomy had failed and the surgeons were unable to make the hole bigger.
Eventually over 12 hours after birth we were reunited with our little boy who was in the Neonatal Unit and stable. He was to rest the night and a further decision was to be made the following day. It's safe to say it was a very long night!
At 24 hours old the decision was made to leave our little man in his stable condition and complete his corrective Surgery at 48 hours old rather than try another Balloon Septostomy. The for now, we sit with our little man and wait.
At 48 hours old our little man was taken for Corrective surgery: this is open heart surgery – the heart is stopped and opened to repair it. This means that a machine will have to take over the job that the heart normally does – the heart bypass machine. The aim of the operation is to make the circulation of blood through the heart and lungs normal.
The pulmonary artery and aorta are cut and reattached to the correct side of the heart. The arteries which supply the heart with red blood (coronary arteries) also need to be reattached.
The holes between the two sides of the heart are closed.
After 6 hours of surgery our little Hero came through and then went onto the PICU ward at the LGI. He then began the road to recovery. He amazed and astonished us every day. Moving to Ward 51 shortly after his operation and astonishingly he came home just 5 days after surgery, 1 week old.
The care, love, help and kindness of every single member of staff in every department at the LGI was amazing. We were touched by many people and will never forget what a fantastic team they are.
The Children's Heart Surgery Fund is an award winning charity, supporting the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit at the Leeds General Infirmary. They are funded by generous donations from the general public, corporate supporters, and by the amazing efforts of fundraisers. They are only able to help because of your support.
On the 18th September 2016 I will be doing a tandem skydive from 15,000ft for the Children's Heart Surgery Fund. So please if you can, help me to raise as much money as possible for such a fantastic charity that's very close to my heart.
Thank you for your support :-)
Laura xxx