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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaliyah Rugg

Family 'owe everything' to Alder Hey staff for saving baby's life

A young baby is "lucky to be here" after two gruelling open heart surgeries, thanks to the "amazing staff" at a local children's hospital.

Georgia Struthers said she and partner, Kallum Edwards, were "made up" to find out they were pregnant but "nothing could ever have prepared them" for what they were about to go through.

The North Wales mum said she found out her baby, Lincoln, had an abnormality with his heart at their 20-week scan and were referred to the Liverpool Women's Hospital.

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They were told their baby boy would need to have an operation soon after he was born due to the abnormalities.

Georgia told the ECHO that the day after her C-Section, Lincoln was sent to Alder Hey Children's Hospital where he underwent a gruelling seven and a half hour operation on his heart.

She said: "He had the open heart surgery at 13 days old and he was in ICU for nine days where it was very touch and go. Thankfully we were back on the ward after nine days and after seven weeks at Alder Hey he came home for the very first time.

"On January 4 we went to Alder Hey for a check up and because he had grown more than expected, he'd outgrown his shunt and it wasn't providing enough oxygen which was causing his levels to dip.

Lincoln Edwards (Ian Cooper)

"He was at an extremely high risk of collapsing and so we couldn't go home, he had to have another procedure and it was decided he was now old enough and stronger for a full repair, which was originally scheduled for when he was 12-months old, he was five months at the time.

"They really believed in him and believed in his strength."

Lincoln Edwards with mum Georgia and dad Kallum (Georgia Struthers)

"He had that operation which was nine hours and he breezed through it, he was only in ICU for 48-hours. His heart now is essentially fully repaired and he shouldn't need another operation for around five to ten years and even then it won't be as big."

Now, Georgia is back at her Wrexham home where Lincoln is recovering well.

The family aim to raise £6,000 for the Healing Little Hearts charity in a bid to give something back to those who helped save her son's life.

She added: "Lincoln's surgeon Dr Ram is the lead surgeon for the charity Healing Little Hearts and we could never repay them for what they have done for Lincoln so we decided to help raise money.

Parents Georgia Struthers and Kallum Edwards with their 5 month old son, Lincoln Edwards who has had two open heart surgeries performed at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital (Ian Cooper)

"The charity wants to set up a camp in poorer countries where they can provide the surgery for children who otherwise wouldn't have a chance to live.

"We are fortunate to have the NHS here and it comes down to sheer luck on where you are born and as a parent, needing to pay for healthcare makes me feel sick.

"We'd not have been able to afford what we received and £6,000 is how much a camp costs."

Georgia went on to say they owe the staff "everything" and would home to have a camp in Lincoln's name to show there is "hope".

She said: "It's been horrendous. There's been times I thought we wouldn't be walking out of the hospital with our baby so to be at home now is priceless.

Mum Georgia say they owe Alder Hey staff "everything" (Georgia Struthers)

"We owe them everything. If it wasn't for their care, expertise and skills, we wouldn't have our baby and that's what it comes down to.

"Dr Ram is more than a surgeon. He came to see us every day and came to check how Lincoln was. They give such excellent care.

Five-month-old Lincoln has already been through two gruelling open heart surgeries (Georgia Struthers)

"When I walked into Alder Hey the first time, I never realised I'd walk out a completely different person. It's a different world and certainly opens up your eyes and you realise how lucky some people are.

"We owe his life to them, without them he wouldn't be here."

Anyone wishing to donate can do so online by clicking here.

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