Heart warrior Ava may have been born with a heart defect but she’s not letting that stop her this summer!
Now 3 years old, Ava will be walking up to 3 miles a day, every day, for the month of August to raise money for CHSF…
Ava’s mum Jess tell us a bit more about Ava’s CHD journey so far…
Ava was born February 2019 with critical Pulmonary Stenosis. We found out about Ava’s condition at my 35-week ultrasound scan. Her heart was abnormally larger than others.
We were referred to Leeds straight away for an in depth scan where they revealed Ava had severe pulmonary stenosis.
Her valves were so narrow they told us to prepare for the worst when she arrived.
She was born two weeks later via caesarean section – alive and doing really well. She went straight off to NICU and had a little procedure done to try open the valves. It worked!
Ava was born at 37 weeks and takenn to straight to the neonatal unit for a surgery on her heart
Ava recovered well and we were allowed home 10 days later. She was doing amazing up until needing open heart surgery to correct the valve temporarily at 11 months old.
If it wasn’t for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund we would have never been able to stay beside Ava during these procedures.
Living an hour away, it would have been such a pain having to drive back and forth every day to see Ava in hospital. We got to stay in the parent accommodation during our stay which we are truly grateful for. This is why donations mean the world to CHSF, like giving a regular donation.
Ava also got her Katie Bear and medal after her surgery which she still sleeps with to this day.
Ava is now on two yearly appointments with the cardiologist and starting full time school in September. She enjoys nursery so much right now and we can’t wait to see how she gets on in the future.
You would never know she had gone through everything she has. Such an active little girl with a big cheeky personality. From what we were told at the beginning to what she is now is just amazing.
Without the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit Ava would not be here today. They are absolute miracle workers.
We try our absolute best to donate to CHSF as and when we can, and take part in fundraisers to keep the donations coming.
We are planning a sponsored walk for Ava to raise some money during the summer holidays. It’s the least we can do after the help we’ve received from the whole team at Leeds!
Ava (3) will be walking every day throughout August to fundraise for CHSF!
On #WarriorWednesday, we celebrate the amazing heart heroes we support in our region. We tell their stories to raise vital awareness of congenital heart disease and recognise the care of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.
Feedback from heart patients and families tells us your story will help others dealing with a diagnosis of CHD to realise they are not alone and that there is support available from CHSF.
If you would like to make a regular or one-off donation to help fund CHSF’s life-saving work, you can do so here. Thank you.
More from the blog…
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...
Finley’s Story
Finley Kenneth Peirson was born in July 2022 and was rushed straight to Scarborough’s Special Care Baby Unit with a suspected infection. Over the weeks that followed, Finley deteriorated and was put into an incubator. One of the doctors detected a heart murmur and...