First-time mother was devastated when doctors said her premature son had four congenital heart problems.
The newborn was diagnosed with coarctation (narrowing) of the aortic arch, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (abnormal blood flow between the heart’s arteries), multiple holes in the heart and Bicuspid Aortic Valve (two heart valves instead of three). Since he was born a week prematurely, doctors had to wait seven days until he was the correct weight to operate on. Aimee said that if they had waited any longer, he could have died.
Leo’s surgery was a success, but Aimee recalls going in to see him for the first time after surgery.
She said, “His eyes were puffy. He wasn’t alert. Covered in wires with a machine breathing for him. He was being pumped with medication.” The couple is grateful to the team of doctors and nurses who saved Leo’s life at Bristol Children’s Hospital. “He still has two heart conditions, which we have a review for at the end of February. He’s still not perfect, but he’s doing really well,” Aimee said.
