Francesca

My name is Rachel, I am Francesca's Mum and I have Congenital Heart Disease. I had Transposition of the Greater Arteries when I was 10 months old.

Francesca was born in September 2002. I was monitored very carefully whilst carrying Francesca but unfortunately went into Heart Failure at 32 weeks. Francesca was born at 36 weeks and needed special care for the first few weeks of her tiny life.

At 1 year old she suffered severe reflux and only 7 kgs in weight she aspirated into her lungs and got pneumonia. She was misdiagnosed by the local Hospital despite being there everyday. She collapsed needing urgent treatment and was found to have septicemia. Her body started to shut down and she went into Renal Failure. Having aquired Haemolytic Urea Syndrome she needed an urgent blood transfusion and dialysis. She was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital where she was given 50% chance of survival. Nearly 5 weeks later she was discharged but had High blood pressure, 2 weeks later she was back at GOSH with pneumonia having aspirated.

In April 2004 Francesca had to have a Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication (stomach tied around her esophagus and made into a wrap so it stays below the diaphragm and hopefully cures her reflux). She had to have a gastrostomy fitted and be fed by a the tube into her tummy so she could put weight on.
We spent 6 weeks in Portugal and she really started to improve but unfortunately she was found to have a displaced Hip and had to have an 'Open Reduction' - traumatic open surgery to her left Hip. Francesca was in plaster for 6 weeks and in this time withdrew and wasn't her usual bright self. She couldn't sit up for 3 months and took nearly another 2 years to walk.

In her 7 years she has also had Grommets, her adenoids out, her tonsils out, vitiligo, tongue tie....she continues to require tests, therapies, physio etc, as she is developmentally delayed and cannot talk, hence our use of Makaton signing.

My Daughter is a fighter and a survivor; I love her dearly and she is my Inspiration!!