The term "congenital" means the condition is present from birth.Congenital heart disease is one of the most common types of birth defect, affecting up to 8 in every 1,000 babies born in the UK.

Finding out we were expecting a baby was the shocking but most amazing news. Like any other parents up until we went for our 12 week scan we were open minded in the sense that anything before then was possible and to take each day as it came.

We went to every single appointment and very single scan. Took on board the do's and don t's, what to be weary of throughout the pregnancy. When we went back to Bradwell hospital for our 16 week scan everything seemed to be in working order and our baby was growing perfectly and we booked in for our gender scan that we were having when i was 21 weeks.

On 24th august 2018 we arrived back at Bradwell hospital for our gender scan. Although we weren't finding out the gender on that day and had to wait for our gender reveal party we were so excited to see our little baby again. However when she was scanning she had mentioned to us that she couldn't get a clear view of the right side of his heart and that she wanted us to go for another scan a week later at North Staffs hospital to see if they could see what was going on.

When we went to North Staffs hospital we were called through by our consultant and we were optimistic of what was going to be said. After being in the scanning room for a while we then got moved into a smaller room to wait for what was found. When she came back into the room she explained to us that the baby was still lying in a awkward position and she couldn't clearly see what the problem was and the advised us to travel to Birmingham once we had an appointment to see the specialists and see if they could get a clearer view. Little did we know that 3 days after they had already got in contact with us and made an appointment for the day after.

On the 4th September we travelled to Birmingham hospital to see the specialised cardiac team. Being in the scanning room for over an hour and 6 cardiac specialist later we then got moved to another little room where we waited for the results. But in the moment we didn't realise the impact of what we were about to be told would have on us. Being told that our babies heart wasn't "normal" and the function of it wasn't how it should be was something that no-one can ever be prepared to hear, it was like our whole life just crashed. Moments later them also telling us that the heart defect our baby had normally occurs in babies suffering with down syndrome and that it would be hard for their body to cope with it and offered us a termination, however we made it pretty clear that no matter what that wasn't an option.

Returning to Birmingham a few weeks later with him being a lot bigger than the first time we went they were able to see exactly what the problem was and explain to us what the procedures would be when our son is born. Getting told that your unborn baby will need life changing surgery straight after birth wasn't something that we took easily but we wanted what was best for our baby. They found that the Pulmonary valve which pumps the oxygenated blood to his lungs is completely blocked and that the only thing that would help would be either to put in a balloon to keep the blood pumping through his heart to his lungs or to put a stent in to make sure that the tube stays unblocked allowing the blood to pass through the tube that the normal valve should of done. We were then told that he would need a further operation when he's bigger to close the holes that he has in his heart which is mixing both the oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood but this operation would put to much stress on his body when he is little.

It costs approximately £10,000 per procedure for surgeons to carry out these types of operations and the help and support we have had throughout the whole pregnancy with taking in so much information has been remarkable. To support our baby and to give back to the people that have helped us and will be helping and support our baby so much would mean the world to us. The midwifes and consultants get paid to do whats best for the babies but they do so much more, go out of their way to help the families that have been told the news they never thought they would hear.

Honestly the slightest donation would go such a long way to help support us travelling to and from appointments , living costs while our baby is in hospital before and after his operations but most of all to give back to an incredible team that have done nothing but give us love and support when being in such an unfamiliar place and helping us deal with the fact that our baby has got a life changing condition.

Many Thanks

The Montford/Coleman Family xxxxx