A FAMILY have been devastated by the news their unborn baby has only half a functioning heart: but Kerry and Graeme Healey are turning their distress into positive action by raising awareness of left heart syndrome. The baby has hypoplastic left heart syndrome which is a congenital condition that affects the left side of the heart.
When their little girl is born in May she will require immediate major and invasive surgery with just a 50 to 60 per cent chance of survival afterward.
The rare condition is only suffered by one baby in 5,000.
“We just thought this really can’t be happening,” said Graeme, 40.
“Even after the first surgery, the baby will require two further open heart surgeries, and even a complete heart transplant later into their early adult life.
“Of course this is completely life changing for a family, and sometimes, even with the best medical intervention in the world, some babies don’t even survive as far as the first operation.”
The couple, who already have five sons and two daughters, are now seeking to raise funds and awareness for the charity Little Hearts Matter.
Little Hearts Matter is a charity which supports families from the initial diagnosis, through the rollercoaster of treatments to the day-to-day challenges.
The charity eventually works with young people to give them confidence to have an independent life, whatever their future may hold.
Graeme is preparing to leap 3,500ft out of a plane on May 7 in a sponsored parachute jump at South Cerney.
And his 15-year-old daughter Jade plans to do a sponsored run to raise money. She also gave a speech at her year assembly at The High School For Girls in Denmark Road on Friday to help raise awareness. So far Graeme has raised almost £300.
To support his leap and donate to the appeal log on to www.bmycharity.com /lhmgph.
