When my wife Victoria and i were told we were expecting twins we were both overjoyed and worried at the same time. We knew having two babies at the same time was going to be a challenge but we accepted head on. Unfortunately during the 20 week scan they identified that one of the  twins, our little girl Willow, had a heart defect and would require specialist attention. 

 

After several consultations and many many sleepless nights our twins were born. Aodhán, our son, was born healthy at 6lbs 13 ounces and Willow was born at 7lbs. She was immediately transferred to the neonatal unit of Liverpool Women's Hospital. Once stable she was sent to Alder Hey's Critical Care unit to be constantly monitored and kept healthy before surgery.

 

She was born with an incorrectly formed heart, with effectively one main chamber, there should be four. The artery to her lungs hadn't formed either and the only valve in her heart is leaking and not functioning close to what it should be. She will be undergoing a lot of treatment and although this may not be successful enough to save her, they are doing all they can for our little girl.

 

The nurses, doctors and other staff we have encountered since being here have been fantastic and a true credit to the profession. We believe they deserve more credit than they receive and although we cant do anything ourselves to help our daughter, we would love to be able to help put towards the facilities and see, if possible, they can be made even better.

 

Our daughter is an extreme case but they look after so many sick and seriously ill children here. Any contribution you make will go towards the treatment and health care of the children that need it the most. 

 

 

Sadly, on the 22nd April 2013, aged only eleven weeks, Willow passed away at Blackpool Victoria hospital Whilst trying to fight off an infection. We never expected Willow to do as well as she did, we certainly didnt expect her to have come home, which she did after under two months. If it wasnt for the help and care provided by alder hey, we wouldn't have had eleven amazing weeks with our daughter.