Our beautiful daughter Jessica was born in September 2011 with a severe heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. This was diagnosed at her 20 week scan and we were initially told that she was unlikely to be suitable for surgery. However, a pioneering in-utero operation at 28 weeks to enlarge a hole in her atrial septum was carried out and she was able to make it to term and get through her first open-heart surgery at just eight hours old. Jessica underwent five more surgeries during her life. Her final surgery - the Fontan procedure - took place in December 2017. She initially made a good recovery but sadly passed away suddenly on 14th April 2018 at the age of 6. This is the story of a little girl whose half a heart overflowed with love. She was, and will forever be, our little miracle and brought joy to all who knew her.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Spacing out feeds

Over the last couple of days, we have been focusing on trying to increase the amount of milk Jessica is taking for each feed and to try and space them out. She has tolerated the increase in feed needed to go to two-and-a-half hour gaps between feeds but still struggles with keeping down the three-hourly amount. We are now alternating larger feeds with smaller ones to gradually try and get her used to a bigger amount and get into a feeding pattern which will be manageable at home.

Otherwise, all is well. Jessica is now 4510g (9lb 15oz) and is as happy and smiley as she was before her surgery. She is very inquisitive and loves to watch everything that is going on around the ward. She is also a very sociable baby and has been treating all the nurses and her visitors (Richard, Nicki, Greg, Helen and Katy) to big smiles.

Michael has had to go back home now to go back to work but hopefully it won't be too much longer before we are able to all be home again.

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2 comments:

  1. elizabethinchurch5 January 2012 at 01:08

    Delighted to see you all doing so well and Jessica's personality shining through.Wishing you all a wonderful New Year and may 2012 bring you unexpected joy.

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  2. Louise8 January 2012 at 18:48

    Thank you, happy new year to you too, Elizabeth! x

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