From being diagnosed with CHD at just 3 days old to overcoming multiple heart surgeries, Abraham is a true heart warrior!
As well as funding our life-saving Heart Unit where he was treated, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund have played a crucial role in supporting Abraham and his family on his journey so far.
Abraham’s mum, Katherine, said:
Abraham was diagnosed with CHD when he was three days old. They found he had multiple heart defects, and we were rushed across to Leeds from Jessops Wing in Sheffield the following day.
Due to Abraham being born prematurely, he was too small for surgery, so we were cared for on neonates for three weeks until he had his first open heart surgery in “the hybrid” theatre.
For the first 12 weeks of his life, we thought he was going down the single ventricle route of surgery but by some miracle on the morning of his second open heart surgery his surgeon, Mr Jaber, came and told us he thought he can do a full heart repair.
A long 10 hours later, Abraham was out of surgery. Mr Jaber had worked his magic and he had repaired our boy’s heart.
However, his recovery wasn’t smooth to start with and one week later he had a pacemaker fitted as he was still in ‘heart block’ following his repair.
Heart block is a condition where the heart beats more slowly or with an abnormal rhythm. It’s caused by a problem with the electrical pulses that control how your heart beats.
A pacemaker is a small electrical device that’s implanted in the chest or abdomen. It’s used to treat some abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and sends electrical pulses to the heart to keep it beating regularly.
After this, Abraham flourished, and he grew stronger and stronger.
As we left hospital the aim was to get Abraham to his first birthday before we discussed any further surgery. Abraham way exceeded this and on the 5th January 2024 he had his third open heart surgery, aged 4 years 7 months old.
In this surgery he had a resection of his aortic valve membrane and his pacemaker replaced (he is pacing himself and was pre-surgery too).
On writing this, he is now 20 days post-surgery and doing amazingly!
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund have helped us so much throughout our journey as a family, navigating the new world of CHD.
Without their support we wouldn’t have been able to stay close to Abraham during his time in hospital. His first admission was for 16 weeks. We were helped financially during our first admission too, which was a great help as living in hospital isn’t cheap.
Abraham also loves his Katie Bears and certificates!
CHSF gives us opportunities to meet other heart mums and dads. We enjoy meeting and talking to other parents who share the same experiences as us. As Abraham gets older, I believe he will benefit from meeting other children who have gone through what he has too.
On our latest admission it was lovely to meet Family Support & Youth Worker, Lucy!
13 babies are born every day in the UK with a heart defect, making CHD the most common birth defect.
In our region alone, Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is there for over 17,000 babies, children and adults like Abraham every year, who are living with a heart defect. We’re there to support their families too!
Help us to raise vital funds this #HeartMonth, by making a donation to our essential and life-saving work. Thank you.
Alfie’s Story
17-year old Alfie’s family found out he had congenital heart disease (CHD) when he was just 2 months old. Following multiple procedures, Alfie is now enjoying life both as a teenager and keen LUFC supporter, as mum Kirsty tells us: “Alfie was only 7 weeks old when we...
Zak’s Story
We know it’s vitally important to share your journeys with congenital heart disease. Your experiences are both reassuring and educational for other heart families, and provide vital awareness for others. 3-year old Zak’s condition was found by complete coincidence,...
Alessia Mae’s Story
Alessia Mae is fast approaching her first birthday, but at birth she was sent urgently to her local hospital as she was critically low on oxygen and had open heart surgery at just a day old in Leeds.Mum Tierney tells the full story… “Alessia Mae was born on the 21st...