"I think we are over the worst of it now" - Fareham family appeal for help after baby born with rare congenital heart condition
Minutes after welcoming their baby into the world, a couple were faced with the terrifying news that their new-born had a rare heart condition - but they’ve said the support has been “overwhelming”.
Alice Morby and her partner Danny Cussen, from Fareham, found out there about the issue shortly after their baby boy George was born on November 20 at Queen Alexandra Hospital.
The euphoric moment of seeing their baby for the first time was replaced with worry as it was discovered George had a rare heart condition called transposition of the great arteries.
Danny said: “It was straight after the birth. When he was born, they put him on Alice’s chest for skin to skin contact and he wasn't gaining any colour or breathing properly. He was then put onto a bed in the room and the doctors checked him which is when we found out something wasn't quite right.”
The congenital heart condition is where the two major arteries leaving the heart are swapped, causing a baby's body to receive deoxygenated blood and the lungs to receive oxygenated blood.
He was rushed to Southampton General Hospital for an emergency procedure and at eight days old, George underwent major open heart surgery, but he is now in recovery.
Danny said: “He is doing really well, he is in recovery at the moment. Most of his cannula and IVs have now come out and he started breastfeeding now so he has made some really good progress.
“The doctors are doing scans everyday to check the progress but we are hoping that this is the only procedure he will need. They have said there is a little tiny leak in the heart but they are not concerned at the moment. All the surgeons have said it is ok but at a later time it may need intervention and require further surgery.”
The couple are now able to pick George up and walk him around the ward, a far cry from the first week of George’s life.
Danny said: “I think we are over the worst of it now. The first week was a long week, it almost felt like three months and we didn’t sleep but now he is in recovery, breastfeeding and making good progress, I think we are over the worst of it. We just get a bit emotional here and there.”
Both Danny and Alice work, as a tail lift engineer and a specialist support worker respectively, and faced the added stress and pressure of taking time away to be with George while still needing to pay rent and bills.
It was suggested to them that they should start a GoFundMe, which they duly did but without any expectations. Setting a target of £1,500 they have already raised £1,268 at the time of writing.
Danny said: “We put it up and didnt really expect anything and then it just took off. It’s unbelievable, the amount of strangers around the world who have donated to our cause and our little family, it’s quite overwhelming to be honest.”
It has helped take some stress away and will enable them to be by George’s side for longer with no timescale yet confirmed as to when they can take him home. However, as he continues to recover, they are holding out hope that they could bring him home for Christmas.
Danny heralded the care provided to them in Southampton. He said: “Thank you to all the doctors and nurses at Southampton General. They have been really supportive and informative throughout the whole situation so a big thank you to them.”
To donate to George and Alice visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/xr4a3x-baby-george
The parents have advised any money left over will be donated to the British Heart Foundation.