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 10 April 2012

Another step taken!

Mr Haw has just been up to Ocean Ward to let us know that Jessica’s latest surgery has been successful. However, the pressures in her pulmonary arteries are a little on the higher side and the team are concerned that she has grown extra blood vessels around her lungs (known as collaterals) as a response to having lower oxygen saturations which may be causing this increased pressure. If she doesn’t progress as well as they would like during the rest of today and overnight then it may be that she will need to have a cardiac catheter procedure done during the next 24-48 hours to place coils inside these extra blood vessels to block them off.

She is being transferred down to PICU at the moment and we are hoping to be able to see her at some point in the next hour or so. Thank you so much to everyone who has been keeping our little miracle in their thoughts and prayers – we have been so blessed to be able to take another step forward in Jessica’s journey today.

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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous11 April 2012 at 01:58

    Wonderful news! Sorry to hear about the collaterals but at least they are being monitored. Love to you all.
    Elizabeth

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