Little Hearts, Big Love - Finding gratitude amongst the grief of life without our heart angel
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Tag Archives: surgery

Jessica’s handmade heart

29/09/201403/08/2017
Jessica recovering from her third open-heart surgery

My daughter Jessica was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). This is a complex CHD where the left side of the heart doesn’t form correctly. Basically this means that Jessica only has half a working heart. Babies born with HLHS need to have heart surgery in order to survive.… Read More

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Three years on: reflecting on our heart family journey

14/09/201419/07/2017
Hubby gazing down at baby Jessica on PICU

The two photos below were taken three years ago today. They capture some precious moments with Jessica as we prepared for her to go to theatre for the second time since she was born. I remember it like it was yesterday. The anxious waiting, not wanting to leave her cot for a moment. Wanting to… Read More

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Being a heart dad: a personal reflection

15/06/201413/03/2018
Baby Jessica in intensive care, stroking Daddy's face

For Father’s Day, I asked my husband to share a post about his journey as a heart daddy. This is his raw and honest account of his feelings about the journey we have taken as a family so far. It has been very hard and emotional for him to share this. I would like to… Read More

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Children’s Heart Week Day 3: Jessica’s HLHS journey so far

14/05/201409/07/2024
Jessica on PICU after her Glenn procedure

Like many other children with CHD, Jessica has needed several operations. Her heart can never be fixed – surgery can only help improve her heart function. The usual surgical pathway for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) involves three procedures. These are the Norwood procedure, Glenn procedure and the Fontan completion. The aim of… Read More

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I'm Louise, mummy of three - Jessica, forever six, who was born with half a heart and lives on in mine; and heart-healthy Sophie (born 2013) and Thomas (born 2018). I blog about living with grief after child loss, crafts, days out and the little moments of family life.

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A square cartoon showing the Little Hearts, BIg Love logo with four interconnecting hearts (3 red, 1 blue), cartoon drawings of a woman, a toddler boy, a little girl, a little girl with angel wings and a man and text above "finding gratitude amongst the grief of life without our heart angel"

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