A Derry toddler who underwent open heart surgery last month has taken “massive steps” on his road to recovery.
Baby James McBride travelled to London for the surgery at St. Thomas’ Hospital on July 26.
It is now four weeks since James' heart surgery and his mother has said “he is doing really well and is showing big improvements.”
The family got a private air ambulance back to the Royal Sick Children’s Hospital in Belfast late on Monday, August 1, then on to Altnagelvin five days later.
At just 20-weeks-old James has shown the courage and determination to overcome various health difficulties.
He had kidney problems before he was born and had to be cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit.
At five weeks he was admitted for kidney surgery when they discovered his throat was only 1mm wide which causes him severe difficulty breathing.
His heart condition was found when doing a CT scan of the lungs and chest.
James’s heart problem involved four veins that normally return from the lungs to the left side of the heart, two of those veins were joining the wrong chamber on the right side of the heart so surgeons had to re-structure the heart as it was getting too much blood and swelling on the right side.
Breathing difficulties are an ongoing concern, which required the insertion of a tracheostomy tube to aid with breathing.
However, his mother, Annmarie is thankful her ‘little fighter’ has reacted well to heart surgery and showing positive signs of recovery.
His mother Annmarie said: “He is much brighter; his colour is nice and pink now whereas he was quite mottled beforehand.
“His heart rate is stable now as it used to be so fast. He is keen for bottle feeds now too although we do still need his ng tube to top up feeds.”
Due to the extent of James’ medical conditions he had only been allowed home for two days since he was born.
The greatest gift to Annmarie, father Kevin and sister Anna is that James is now well enough to be cared for at home for one day every weekend.
“And the most amazing part, is he is able to come off his ventilator for around one-two hours a day now.
“This is a massive step as doctors thought it could be a long time before he is able to do that. He is a little fighter,” Annmarie explained.
His mother said there have been “massive improvements” already just four weeks down the line from his heart surgery and hopefully he will only continue to improve.
She added: “He is the most beautiful boy, he has won the hearts of all the doctors and nurses working with him with his beautiful big blue eyes and lovely big smiles he gives to everyone who talks to him.
“He is our little hero.”
Little James still has a lot ahead of him as when he is two-three years-old he will need re-constructive surgery to widen his airway.
In time it is hoped his tracheostomy tube will no longer be needed and he will be able to breathe unaided.
“That is further down the line,” Annmarie said. “We are just going to enjoy our beautiful boy and aim to get James home within the next couple of months to be finally with his adoring big sister Anna and us, all under one roof - like a family should be.”
James pictured with his sister Anna.
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