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 13 December 2011

Pre-op preparations

Over the last few days, we have been busy catching up with friends and family before Jessica was due to go back into hospital. Jessica has been meeting a few more members of her family and met Uncle Kevin and cousin Matt for the first time as well as catching up with other aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents and friends over the weekend.

We are now back on Ocean Ward preparing for Jessica’s operation tomorrow. She has been having heart scans, ECGs, blood taken and cannulas inserted ready for this and has coped very well with it all. She also had a visit from some of the Southampton football players who were visiting the ward and delivering Santa sacks to all the children.

We are, of course, quite anxious about tomorrow as it is a big operation and will be praying very hard that our little girl will continue to be a little fighter and get through it all. Please continue to keep Jessica in your thoughts and prayers as she undergoes this next step on her journey. We will update again after the surgery.

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