A Glasgow couple are rejoicing after their months-old baby had open heart surgery to save her life.
Gianna Graham, who is now 13 months, struggled to breathe soon after being born on December 13, 2021, and was immediately taken to ICU.
Initial tests led to the tot being diagnosed with a defect called PDA - a condition where an artery doesn't close after birth, and was diagnosed with a heart murmur.
Doctors gave six weeks for the artery to close on its own, after which medics continued to monitor her condition, but found after a general check up that her Gianna's weight had rapidly deteriorated.
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She was taken straight away to the Queen Elizabeth for Sick Kids children's cardiologist ward, parents Robbie, 23 and Charly, 21, were told Gianna had a hole in her heart and would need open heart surgery, the Daily Record reports.
Charly said "The cardiologist said it was a good job she was admitted when she was because they wouldn't have wanted to imagine what would have happened if she had been left any longer.
"Because it had been left for so long the hole in her heart had stretched.
"My heart was breaking when we were told she would need major surgery as we didn't know if she would make through because she's tiny.
"We've been living in limbo, every day not knowing what's going to happen so we're so thankful that's she now on the road to recovery."
Gianna had open heart surgery on March 9 and to her parents relief has sailed through the procedure, gaining strength quickly.
Her family are now looking forward to happy times.
Reflecting on the last few months, Charly said: "I do know how many times I was on the phone to NHS 24 and a few times she had to be taken to hospital by hospital, where she stayed for a few days.
"She was so tiny because her weight was deteriorating. It was taking all her energy to feed because she struggled to breathe.
"I spent every day crying, looking for help and we can now finally breathe a sigh of relief."
Robbie and Charly are now fundraising for Queen Elizabeth ward 1E to thank the doctors and nurses that have cared for Gianna.
"Day in, day out they never fail to amaze me," Charly added.
"The care they give to not just the kids but us as parents is beyond words. I would particularly like to mention Amanda who has just been amazing.
"It's a stressful and upsetting place as a high dependency ward so what they do is incredible.
"The strength this lady little (Gianna) has shown considering the things she’s endured makes my heart burst.
"It's been a whirlwind.
"She had covid and bronchitis when she was first born so she's a little fighter.
"After just two days in ICU after surgery she was back on the routine ward and we're expecting to get her home sometime next week.
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