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.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Another infection

This morning’s blood results showed that Jessica’s CRP level and white blood cell count have risen again and we were quite relieved that she is already on antibiotics. Her wound was looking less red than yesterday but later in the day we noticed that it was looking a little raised. The surgical registrar came to review and opened the wound slightly which resulted in quite a lot of pus oozing out so it seems clear that there is an infection in the wound. It has been cleaned and re-dressed and the team will review it again in the morning – hopefully the antibiotics that she is already on will already be helping with this latest infection.


Other than the infection, Jessica has had a fairly good day and has been much more settled. She is still working quite hard with her breathing but this gradually seems to be improving and the amount of oxygen that she is on has been reduced. Her sats also seem to be a little higher today. She still feels quite warm, but her temperature has stayed normal and she is taking her Monogen feeds well by bottle so that is all quite positive. She also had a visit in the evening from Uncle Adrian and Auntie Julie.

4 comments:

  1. Hi guys and of course gorgeous Jessica.i read your blogs regularly but rarely comment as they bring back so many memories for me with willow.with you every step of the way and you will not believe how well Jessica will be once she has recovered.its amazing it really is.love you you all x x x x

    ReplyDelete
  2. How could GOD be so cruel. Jessica is a little angel and she deserves the best that this world can offer. Hope and pray she recovers soon. Else, i will loose the faith on GOD and will NEVER believe in that anymore. Jessica, we love you kid, hope you pull it through (with tears in my eyes i pray for the last time to GOD to give you enough strength). Loads of love to you my little angel. Keep fighting for the sake of your family and all others like me whom you could count as your extended family my dear.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Please don't lose your faith - God has got Jessica this far and we have had so many miracles - if He was a cruel God than we wouldn't have even got this far. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers - Jessica is a little fighter and hopefully we will get past these infections soon and she will start getting better xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Amy - so glad to hear that Willow is doing so well - lots of love to you all xxx

    ReplyDelete