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.

Sunday 29 June 2014

Three years on from the first step



It is three years today since Jessica took the first step along her journey with the success of the second attempt at fetal surgery.  We will always be incredibly thankful to the fabulous team of consultants who were involved in that surgery and helped give us hope, and to all of our friends and family who surrounded us with their love and prayers and have continued to do so.  We recently attended the Churches Together in Uxbridge (CTU) AGM with Jessica and Sophie.  The CTU prayed for us as a family at their AGM three years ago and it was lovely to be able to share Jessica’s story again with them and show how God answered that prayer.  What a huge blessing it is to be able to watch Jessica grow and thrive three years on.

  

We have been making the most of the lovely weather over the last couple of weeks with lots of different outings as well as enjoying time just playing in the garden.  We have visited Paulton’s Park and Peppa Pig World with other Ocean Ward families and saw two other children, Jack and Eli, who were in hospital at the same time as Jessica.  It is always lovely to catch up with other heart families and see how well the children are doing having last seen each other in hospital.



Jessica and Sophie also enjoyed going to see In the Night Garden Live in Richmond and meeting Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy afterwards.  We have had a day out at Legoland with Grandma and been to stay with Nanny for a few days, catching up with aunties, uncles and cousins there.



Today we have enjoyed a day out at the Charlie Jones Foundation family fun day where we enjoyed spending time with godmummy Katy and seeing some other heart families there too – Donna and Lily; and Freya, Lee, Noah and Erin (who is a fellow HLHS warrior).  Jessica and Erin had a little cuddle and it was lovely to see how well both girls are getting on.



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1 comment:

  1. elizabethinchurch30 June 2014 at 00:03

    Three fabulous years- it's just flown by and Jessica makes a loving big-sister.

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