A little boy born with half a heart is proving he’s made of tough stuff after surgeons “plumbed in” a new heart for him.
In his short life four-year-old Max French, from Hartburn, Stockton, has undergone three open heart surgeries - the first just five days after he was born.
Since Max’s last major surgery at the Children’s Heart Unit in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital in August, he has been enjoying a new lease of life.
And looking at him now he seems no different to any four-year-old boy, racing around and living life to the full.
Prior to the last operation Max’s heart was so weak he was constantly blue, lacking in energy, unable to fight off common colds and minor infections and constantly tired.
He couldn’t even climb the stairs.
But just six weeks after having his life-saving surgery, the youngster started at the nursery at Hartburn Primary School.
“He now has heaps of energy and is a totally different child,” said his mum, Leah Hanson.
“His longer term future is unknown and it is likely that, at some point in the future, he will need a heart transplant. But he might not.”
Leah, 28, a Stockton social worker who also has a two-year-old daughter Ruby French, knew before Max was even born that he was suffering from a heart defect.
After her 20 week scan at North Tees she was referred to the RVI in Newcastle for full antenatal tests and then to the Freeman.
Five hours after Max was born up in Newcastle he underwent his first operation where surgeons “replumbed his heart”.
“Max was born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) - a particular condition that basically means he was born with half a working heart,” said Leah.
“Over the last four years his surgeon has worked to create him a new heart, although he still has only one ventricle. It’s been a gradual process since he was born.
“But if he had been born 25-30 years ago he couldn’t have undergone this procedure.
“He’s perfectly well at the moment, but how long will the heart work, we just don’t know?”
Max stopped running around earlier today just long enough to tell the Gazette he loved his new school and his favourite part was “model making”.
Now he can actually run or scooter all the way to school - a feat his mum and dad Gary, a 38-year-old HGV driver, could barely imagine a year ago.
Leah said her son’s surgeon Massimo Griselli and all the staff at the Freeman Children’s Heart Unit had been “absolutely unbelievable”, and also thanked his new new school for their support.
On Friday Hartburn Primary School is asking pupils to go to school wearing red to acknowledge CHD Awareness week.
As well as raising awareness of the condition the day will also raise money for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Click HERE to donate to the charity.
No comments:
Post a Comment