Little Bradley White is a chubby boy of
four months who, against the odds, refuses to give up.
Even before he was
born, Doctors knew he had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, one
of the most serious forms of congenital heart defects.
Medical experts in
Tasmania have told Bradley’s parents they know of no other
Tasmanian baby who has survived the first two of three vital
surgical operations.
Those babies born with
the syndrome have a left side of their heart so poorly formed
it cannot support the circulation of oxygenated blood around
the body.
Without surgical
treatment almost all babies with hypoplastic left heart
syndrome die as newborns. Medical staff at the Royal
Children’s Hospital in Melbourne explains to families the
slight odds of success and say they fully understand if
parents allow their babies to die peacefully.
With the surgery, the
odds are not good either. The first operation comes soon after
birth and must be followed up at around three or four months.
And at the age of around three or four another operation is
almost certainly required.
“Bradley was diagnosed
with the syndrome when I had a pregnancy scan at 20 weeks and
back then we were told he had a one percent chance of
survival’” said his mum Natasha Noyes.
Ms Noyes and her
partner Graeme White knew what they to do to give Bradley even
a slim chance at life.
“We dropped everything
- put our lives on hold – and went to Melbourne where he could
have the treatment he needed,” said Mr White.
Bradley was born in
the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne and moved almost
immediately to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The family returned to
Hobart just a few days ago, ready to pick up their lives with
a miracle baby on board.
Bradley’s family has
been overwhelmed with the medical expertise, care and devotion
from the team at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The family, who
previously lived at Claremont, is staying with relatives in
Goodwood.
As for Bradley, he has
a bit of a sniffle right now but is otherwise healthy. His
future is still very much in the balance but he’s a tough
little bloke almost meant to pull though.
Natasha and Graeme and
their other son, 15-months-old Cameron, is a happy group who
agree they have witnessed and lived though a miracle.
“We have to rebuild
our lives now – we haven’t much money, no home or jobs but we
have a happy little baby and it’s been worth everything,” said
Mr White.
The third operation
for survivors of hypoplastic left heart syndrome is called the
fontan operation.
Not all affected
children need to have the final fontan operation.
If they are well
enough it may not be required.
But the world of
medical science is ever changing and at least Bradley is alive
– and ready for what life throws at him.
