It’s been 5 years since Ella had her heart surgery at Alder Hey.
We celebrated her ‘heart day’ just a few weeks ago with a bit of quiet reflection, lots of thankfulness and of course, cake…
Today we went back for her routine cardiac follow up appointment at Manchester Children’s Hospital. It’s been nearly 2 years since she last had a check up or ‘heart MOT’.
Although she’s very well in herself and not showing any outward signs that her heart is anything but happy, it’s always the appointment that I worry about the most. You just can’t take everything being well for granted until the professionals have checked what’s going on on the inside.
We worry about her heart function, whether it’s coping with her growth and growing with her. We worry about her heart’s electrical function and also about the pressures in her heart, arteries and vessels. We are lucky that she isn’t on any heart medications at all but I guess there is again a worry that she may need to be in the future.
Ella was a little superstar today, considering she won’t have remembered the last time she was there. She made no fuss, lay herself on the bed and stayed really still while the doctor performed the ultrasound of her heart (ECHO), which was apparently ‘tickly’.
There was no requirement for dvd/phone distraction or constant supply of chocolate buttons like at the last appointment! She was equally as good during her ECG and even removed the stickers herself (ouch).
Thankfully I can report that after her tests today, all is well and we have been asked to go back again in 18months time. Our little warrior has a happy and healthy heart.
*big sigh of relief*
Happy Wednesday everyone xx
Amy Dunn
Our first baby, Ella Mary, was born at the end of November 2010. We were shocked to find out soon after her birth that she has Down's Syndrome. I was determined from the start that Down's Syndrome will never define Ella or what she is able to do. We will provide for her everything she needs to become the child and the person she deserves to be. There will be hard times ahead.... there are already many hard times behind us. But I already know that the good times will always outweigh the hard times. She has taught me so much in such a short time and seeing life from a new perspective is a privilege that not many of us get the chance to experience.
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