Hoping to improve the detection, care and treatment of CHD in babies, Ticker Tickers, a UK-wide charity, aims to raise funds and awareness in order to ensure the issue is given the recognition it deserves.
With over 1,000 undiagnosed infants being sent home from hospital every year in UK, Tiny Tickers provides specialist training to health professionals and sonographers so they are better equipped to identify a heart defect during a pregnancy scan.
In addition to providing specialist training, the charity also offers support to parents and families dealing with a diagnosis.
Highlighting the importance of their endeavour, Tiny Tickers recalls baby Robbie’s journey – a child, who against all odds, survived a heart condition as a result of early detection.
During Robbie’s 20-week scan, a sonographer spotted a series of structural abnormalities in his heart which meant the infant could immediately be provided with the care he so desperately needed upon delivery.
However, despite receiving immediate attention, Robbie’s condition went downhill on his ninth day- a deterioration which necessitated open heart surgery.
Thankfully, Robbie survived the traumatic operation and is now a happy, healthy little boy.
Reflecting on her son’s experience, Robbie’s mum, Hollie, said: “If Robbie’s 20 week pregnancy scan hadn’t spotted anything, we might have taken him home none the wiser. And, if he’d deteriorated at home he probably wouldn’t have made it – the nurses told us that. We were lucky.”
Delving further still, Hollie revealed: “Every now and again I just sit down and look at him and think ‘you shouldn’t be here’. Robbie is our little miracle - we couldn’t be prouder of what he has achieved. It still amazes us that the sonographer spotted he was poorly. Early detection really is life and death.”
Determined every child’s story has a happy ending like Robbie’s, Tiny Tickers encourages all parents to arm themselves with the information needed in order to ensure their infant’s heart is being checked as thoroughly as required.
If you would like to understand more about the signs to look out for with your baby, you can find a wealth of information here.
