A baby who was found to have a cluster of rare heart defects underwent life-saving surgery at a Glasgow hospital when he was just four-and-a-half months old. Relieved mum Laurie Anderson has now issued her heartfelt thanks to medics at the Royal Hospital for Children, who took excellent care of her son James Moir.
The youngster’s parents were ‘shocked’ to discover the youngster had a condition called Tetralogy of Fallot - which affects all four chambers of the heart - during their 20 week scan. Laurie and fiancé Daniel Moir, from Aberdeen, were warned their unborn child would need open heart surgery within the first year of his life, Glasgow Live reports.
After spending six days in hospital last July, the youngster was allowed home and continues to thrive. Recalling his diagnosis, the 31-year-old mum said: “The sonographer said that there might be a small hole in James' heart but often they close before birth.
"We went in the next day for a doctor to scan me and that's when they discovered it wasn't just a hole in James' heart he had a condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. There were four defects with his heart, we were told he would need open heart surgery to survive.
"That was a real shock to us and it was really hard. You always want a happy healthy baby and it's not something you expect. We went to Glasgow and they confirmed that he would need surgery within his first year of life.
"With Tetralogy of Fallot some babies need surgery right away but luckily James' heart was growing well during my pregnancy scans. I was originally meant to be giving birth in Glasgow but because everything was ok I was allowed to give birth in Aberdeen."
Prior to the life changing surgery, little James was still bringing a smile to his parents' faces. However, the incredible care and work of the staff at the hospital mean that the now one-year-old will keep Daniel and Laurie smiling for many years to come.
The mum said: "His heart was doing really well but then he was struggling to gain any weight and keep down any food. He would have the surgery on July 27 in Glasgow. Luckily it went really, really well.
"He was only in intensive care for 18 hours and was in hospital for six days in total. Then when we came home, you would never have known he had open heart surgery other than a scar on his chest.
"He is now thriving. Before surgery James was sick quite a lot. Three days after, he was smiling again and he was happy. He was so much brighter and he looked so much healthier. He has plenty of energy and he is eating a lot better."
One in 125 babies have holes in their hearts at birth and it usually heals over time. Laurie is now part of a social media group with other mothers who have seen their children go through open heart surgery.
She said: "There is a Facebook group that I joined. So I got to know a lot of mums and they can talk you through it. It is so good to see other mums showing their kids who are on the other side of the surgery.
"Now I speak to mums who have children waiting for the surgery and talk them through it. At the time I knew nobody that this had happened to."
The traumatic experience has changed Laurie's outlook on life. The Aberdonian couple were supposed to tie the knot just before the pandemic and they were left shattered when they were forced to cancel their special day.
However, they now realise that as long as they have their health nothing else matters. Laurie added: "We were due to get married in 2020 and then covid happened so we moved it to 2021 and covid was still around.
"We never got married and I remember being devastated because we planned this beautiful wedding. Now that doesn't seem as important. Silly things like flowers on a table are stunning but that doesn't matter.
"It has shifted our perspective on a lot of things and we really want to enjoy our time with him. He is learning to walk right now and would have never been possible without the surgery."
As a thank you to those who made sure that James could celebrate his first birthday they have asked friends and family to donate to the hospital rather than buying gifts. The mum explained: "We want the money put to a better cause and help the children at the hospital who maybe are there long-term.
"At this age James is not going to be aware that he isn't getting lots of presents. We want people to donate to the hospital because without them James wouldn't be here. They looked after myself and my fiancé Daniel.
"There was a single bed in the room with your baby but they made sure Daniel had a Travelodge booked and it was all paid for. We saw lots of kids in the playroom and they would take toys back to their room. We want to make sure that continues.
"The surgeons do this everyday and it might not be a big deal to them. But to us we will never forget that day. All the staff there will never realise how grateful we all are. We will never be able to thank them enough."
To donate to the fundraiser click here.
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