A Birmingham mother is spearheading a vital awareness campaign after her newborn baby's severe heart condition remained undetected for seven critical days following birth, culminating in emergency open-heart surgery.
A Seemingly Healthy Pregnancy
Georgeana's pregnancy with her daughter, Novie, progressed without any apparent complications. All routine antenatal appointments and scans indicated that the baby was developing at a normal and healthy rate, providing the family with reassurance and optimism for the future.
The First Alarming Signs
Shortly after Novie's birth in October last year, it became distressingly clear that something was profoundly wrong. The newborn was initially treated for a suspected infection and admitted to hospital for a standard five-day course of antibiotics.
Despite Georgeana repeatedly voicing serious concerns about her baby's unusually rapid breathing patterns, she was consistently reassured by medical staff that this was within the normal range for a newborn, leaving her anxieties unaddressed.
A Sudden Deterioration
On the fourth day of Novie's life, the situation escalated dramatically when her oxygen levels plummeted without warning. She was urgently transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit for more intensive monitoring and support.
Doctors initially diagnosed pneumonia, but despite administering treatment, Novie's condition continued to worsen, with her oxygen saturation levels falling perilously low.
The Critical Diagnosis
On the seventh day, a crucial echocardiogram was finally performed. This scan revealed the true, life-threatening cause of Novie's distress: she had been born with Truncus Arteriosus, a rare and severe congenital heart defect.
This diagnosis demanded immediate surgical intervention. The very next day, when Novie was just eight days old, she underwent major open-heart surgery to correct the defect.
Recovery and Ongoing Care
The complex procedure proved to be successful. Novie, now 14 weeks old, has made remarkable progress in her recovery. However, she will require specialised cardiac care and monitoring throughout her childhood and adult life to manage her condition.
A Mother's Mission for Change
Driven by her traumatic experience, Georgeana is now passionately raising awareness about congenital heart disease in newborns. She aims to highlight the critical importance of early detection and diagnosis.
"If I had known about Novie's heart condition before she was born, she wouldn't have had to spend her first seven days of life fighting so hard just to survive, fighting for every breath, for her heart to keep beating," Georgeana stated, emphasising the emotional and physical toll.
Community Fundraiser for Heart Week
To mark Heart Week (7th–14th February) and raise essential funds for the charity Tiny Tickers, Georgeana is organising a community event titled 'A Heart Like Novie's'.
The fundraiser will take place on 13th February at The Hyland Hub, located on the border of Northfield and Longbridge, from 12pm to 4.30pm.
The event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities and attractions, including:
- Face painting and a bake sale
- A raffle with prizes and vouchers from local supporters
- 'Slime a Manager' and leg waxing by the maintenance team
An online fundraising page has also been established to facilitate further donations from the wider community.
Raising Funds and Awareness
Georgeana hopes the event will achieve a dual purpose: generating crucial financial support for Tiny Tickers, which works to improve the early detection, diagnosis, and care of babies with heart defects, and significantly boosting public awareness of congenital heart disease.
"Novie is such a strong, beautiful girl. She is doing better than ever. The amazing surgeons and team fixed my baby's heart," Georgeana shared. "Novie continues to amaze me every day. I'm so lucky to call her mine."
