BABY girl who underwent open heart surgery at just 30 minutes old has been allowed home to celebrate her first Christmas.
Five-month-old Jessica Muse is believed to be the youngest person ever to undergo open heart surgery after she had the procedure half an hour after birth.Jessica has spent her whole life in hospital, but yesterday she left the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for the first time with her delighted parents Claire and Dom, so they can enjoy the festive season at home.
Jessica was born with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, meaning she essentially had half a heart – as the left side was severely underdeveloped and did not work.
The life-threatening condition was detected during Claire’s 20-week scan and doctors also discovered she had an ‘intact septum’ meaning the top two chambers of her heart were fully closed.
Without surgery, Jessica would not survive after birth.
When she was born weighing 7lbs 5oz on July 16 this year, Claire, 31, and husband Dom, 29, a process operator at a factory, only managed a quick glimpse of their daughter before she was whisked away for surgery.
Dr
Hakan Ergun ( Heart Surgeon )
The top two chambers of her tiny heart were cut open and the op helped her survive long enough to have another seven-hour long open heart procedure at ten days old.
At one point, her parents, of West Allotment, Newcastle, were told their daughter’s chances of survival were ‘very small’ and feared she might not make it.
But after nine operations in total, including the two open heart surgeries, Jessica is battling back and is getting used to life at home.
Claire, a computer technician at Northumbria University, said: “After Jessica was born, I literally heard her cry and she was whisked away to be operated on.
At one point, her parents, of West Allotment, Newcastle, were told their daughter’s chances of survival were ‘very small’ and feared she might not make it.
But after nine operations in total, including the two open heart surgeries, Jessica is battling back and is getting used to life at home.
Claire, a computer technician at Northumbria University, said: “After Jessica was born, I literally heard her cry and she was whisked away to be operated on.
“I just wanted to grab hold of her and keep her safe but I knew that she urgently needed the surgery.
“It’s her first Christmas and it’s so special. We didn’t know if she’d even be here at this point.
“We didn’t know whether to buy many presents at first because we weren’t sure if she’d get to come home, but Jessica has a lot of gifts now, from us and friends.
“We managed to get the Christmas tree up for her too so we’re really looking forward to it.
Looking at her now, it’s hard to believe that she’s been through so much and we are so grateful to the Children’s Heart Unit Fund at the Freeman.” and
“It’s her first Christmas and it’s so special. We didn’t know if she’d even be here at this point.
“We didn’t know whether to buy many presents at first because we weren’t sure if she’d get to come home, but Jessica has a lot of gifts now, from us and friends.
“We managed to get the Christmas tree up for her too so we’re really looking forward to it.
Looking at her now, it’s hard to believe that she’s been through so much and we are so grateful to the Children’s Heart Unit Fund at the Freeman.” and
“Without the staff and surgeons at the hospital, Jessica wouldn’t be here today. We can’t thank them enough, they are brilliant.”
Following the second surgery, Jessica’s sternum was left open and covered with a plastic film and it was eventually closed when she was three-and-a-half weeks old.
Eventually she will need a heart transplant, at around the age of ten.
Jessica also had a special visitor during her final few days at the Freeman Hosptal, ex-Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer, who this week took on the role of patron of the Children’s Heart Unit Fund charity.
Mum-of-one Claire, said: “She had her picture taken with Shearer holding her when he came to visit the hospital.
“Dom says he’s going to get the picture framed with a caption underneath it saying: “One legend meets another.”
“Jessica’s a little fighter.”
Following the second surgery, Jessica’s sternum was left open and covered with a plastic film and it was eventually closed when she was three-and-a-half weeks old.
Claire said: “You could see her little heart beating underneath the film which was a little scary, but she needed it to survive.”
Jessica faces two more operations - one at the end of January and another aged four to allow her heart to function properly. Eventually she will need a heart transplant, at around the age of ten.
Jessica also had a special visitor during her final few days at the Freeman Hosptal, ex-Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer, who this week took on the role of patron of the Children’s Heart Unit Fund charity.
Mum-of-one Claire, said: “She had her picture taken with Shearer holding her when he came to visit the hospital.
“Dom says he’s going to get the picture framed with a caption underneath it saying: “One legend meets another.”
“Jessica’s a little fighter.”
Dr.HakanERGUN.
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