Tuesday 16 August 2016

Seven Years Ago... #CHD #HeartSurgery

It is 7 years ago since we made the journey to hospital for both of my girls to have life saving heart surgery. It seems dramatic saying it was life saving but if they didn't have the surgery they would have died by their teen years....Becky is nearly 14 and may have died by now if the heart defect's had not been discovered!

I blog about CHD's every now and again. Myself and my girls were both born with heart defects.

The short story is: One night the kids were messing about and Ellie managed to get her fingers jammed in Becky's bedroom door....While getting her fingers fixed they realised Ellie had a problem with her heart and it was found she had a Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) (A hole in her heart) Becky showed the same symptoms so we got her checked out. Becky had the exact same defect on her heart as Ellie. Becky had open heart surgery on the 17th of August and Ellie had her's on the 18th.

You can read the full story Part One and Part Two.....I blogged about it a few years ago....

This is them the day they came out of hospital...Cut, bruised, sore but still smiling!


(I have covered Becky up as she asked me to.....Ellie on the other hand is fine about her chest and scar being shown. I did ask her before sharing the photo again)

It's not a time of our life that I like to remember but I feel it is important that I do....I cried and was a mess for most of our hospital stay....It was only when both the girls went through their surgery and were on the ward at either side of me I could smile a bit and relax....

Ellie doesn't really remember much about her stay in hospital but Becky does....She can remember just about everything....It makes me sad that her heart defect wasn't picked up earlier in her life then she wouldn't have the awful memories.....

But for every bad memory there is a good one of our stay in hospital....The lovely lady we met and her daughter who was a great support, my tuna fish sandwich which stunk the ward out. Oops, singing High school musical songs on the karaoke machine, Ellie trying to copy off the Cbeebies show Waybuloo....Yoga is not advised a couple of days after surgery....hehehe, the amazing nurses and the fantastic surgeon which saved my girls life! 

Now the girls are left with leaking valves....We go to the hospital every 18 months now. It was every 2 years but we had a change in specialist and he doesn't like to leave things so long....We are back to the hospital early next year. The girls are fit and healthy and their heart defect doesn't effect their day to day life....They're just normal girls. My girls. My heroes!


14 comments :

  1. Oh my, I didn't realise they had their surgeries days together. It must've been an awful time for you to have both of your babies in surgery in two days, but at the same time such a massive relief when they were both out the other end and on the ward.
    You & your girls a great poster advert for Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) - and your girls are happy and healthy and that's what matters now.
    xx

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    1. Yep. It was the worst time but the relief was amazing!
      Thank you!

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  2. Oh wow that must have been hardgoing - I mean having surgery is bad enough but then having it at the same time. I'm so glad the defect was picked up on and that they're both happy and healthy. They both look great! x

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    1. Thank you! It was awful but they're both fine now so that's all that matters x

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  3. Your girls are both heroes and what a scary thought that if it hadn't been for Ellie getting her fingers trapped in Becky's door, Becky might not be here now. To be seven years on from what was a very scary time for you all is amazing and glad to hear that the girls' heart defects don't hold them back from enjoying a normal, healthy life. Hope that all continues to be well with their check-ups. Thanks for linking up to #hearttoheartlinky

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    1. It is scary to think what would have happened if it wasn't for that accident. She might be stuck with a wonky finger still but at least her breaking it saved their lives.
      Thank you x

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  4. Wow this must have been so nerve wracking to go through. I can't imagine more than one of my children going through a major op at the same time. Glad to hear both your daughters are doing well and living their lives to the full. Big hugs to you all x

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    1. It was the worst time but seemed easier getting it over quickly and having them in at the same time. Thank you x

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  5. What an awful thing for you all to have gone through - and how hard it must have been to go through it with both girls at the same time. Thank goodness the problem was picked up when it was! So glad your girls are healthy, happy and strong now. x

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    1. It was a pretty bad time but it seemed easier having them both in hospital together....I don't think I could have gone through it twice over with a break in between! Thank you x

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  6. I can't imagine how it was, it must have been terrible. It's fab that both of them are fine now and that they are doing great.

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  7. Such a very hard and emotional time for you hun.
    Both of your girls are little stars and I wish them both a very long, healthy and happy future :) xx

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  8. That must have been a very difficult scary time for you with them both having to undergo major surgery. I know I'm not looking forward to when son1 will have a minor op to remove his portacath now that his chemo has finished

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  9. Goodness Kim I can't imagine how you got through this at the time, but I think as mums we just do. Thank goodness your daughter trapped her fingers and you found out about the girls heart defects. Glad they are all well, and thank goodness for our wonderful NHS x

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