Peterborough mum describes ‘worst nightmare’ when she was told baby girl who needs heart transplant ‘might not make the night’

Georgia Kirchin’s parents’ world came crashing down when she was less than a week old, when doctors said she might not make it through the night after suffering breathing problems. During one procedure there were complications which led to the amputation of her foot.

But the tiny fighter from Dogsthorpe would not be beaten, and after being taken to a specialist unit, spending six weeks in intensive care and undergoing open heart surgery, she was allowed home.

Georgia was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis - meaning valves in her heart had narrowed, causing blood to struggle to get round her body.

Four years later Georgia is still fighting - but the family, which also includes Georgia’s mum Jodie, dad Adam and big sister Millie (9), have now been told she will need a transplant in the next couple of years.

Jodie (32) - who is now studying a university course in child care and education - and 30-year old Adam, a mortgage advisor, had been given no warning something was wrong before their tiny baby was rushed to Peterborough City Hospital.

Jodie said: “There was no sign of anything throughout pregnancy and the birth everything was normal and healthy.

“When she got home, she was struggling with her breathing - I raised it with the midwife, who said there was nothing wrong, and asked for a second opinion, and they said everything was fine.

“But when she was five days old, she was really struggling - we rang the helpline, and they said to ring for an ambulance and take her to Peterborough City Hospital.

“We got there, and they did some blood tests on her, and that is when all hell broke loose.
“We were taken to a quiet room, and we were told she might not make it through the night.
“I felt absolutely sick, I was thinking it couldn’t be right, it couldn’t be my baby. It was the worst moment of my life, like an absolute nightmare. I can’t describe the fear we were feeling.”

Jodie spent the night by Georgia’s side as specialists did everything they could to help the tiny baby.

Jodie said: “At the time they did not know what was wrong. They were trying to stabilise her. They were trying to get an IV line in, but because of her condition her veins were not very good.

“They had to use an IO needle in her foot. There were complications, which meant she had to have an amputation.

“I was by her side watching. I wanted to hold her hand, and to stroke her head, but there were so many people. I remember sitting, and rocking. I was in disbelief. I felt so helpless.

“They couldn’t treat her at PCH, and they were trying to find specialist hospital. A transfer team came up from Addenbrooke’s and worked on her for a while, but they said they couldn’t take her, as she might not survive the journey.

“They got through to Glenfield in Leicester, and sent a consultant doctor to take her there, It took several hours to put her on a ventilator.

“Every time the doors opened, I was scared about what they were going to say.”

Georgia’s condition was diagnosed at Glenfield, around 12 hours after they first arrived at Peterborough City Hospital.

However, there she was still in a serious condition - her kidneys were not functioning properly, and she was having the maximum amount of infusions allowed.

Jodie said: “She spent six weeks in intensive care. We saw people come and go, and we did not know if we would every get out. Our whole world was turned upside down.”

Georgia had her first open heart surgery at Glenfield, designed to ‘give her more time,’ before she was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for a second, more complex operation.

Jodie said: “She needed to have a Ross-Konno procedure, where the valve is replaced. She was in surgery for eight hours - when she came out I remember hugging the surgeon so tightly - he is like an angel.

“I can never thank him enough for what he did - there is no amount of money in the world that you can give.”

Jodie said that the procedure was so complex, surgeons travelled from across the country, or followed on computers to learn about it.

Georgia was allowed home in time for Mother’s Day - although she was on a heavy course of medication, and still needed a feeding tube,

Everything seemed to be going well, until last summer, when doctors at Glenfield said her heart function was deteriorating, and there was nothing more that they could do, other than a transplant.

Jodie said; “For anyone in ‘the heart community,’ they know a transplant is the worst case scenario.

“There are not many children’s hearts available.

“If you do get a transplant, the body will constantly try to reject it, so you need strong medication for the rest of your life. The medication can cause a range of serious complications, and the heart can last 10-15 years. It is very rare to get a second transplant.

“Some people live up to 30 years with a new heart, some not as much as five.”