Help for baby Ezra and his family
Donation protected
Hi my name is Kayleigh and I'm raising money to help baby Ezra and his family in a very difficult time. Baby Ezra is currently in hospital awaiting a heart transplant. I would like to raise some money to help them with the costs they face as he stays in hospital.His mam and dad (Bianca and Will) have kindly given permission to share his story.
Ezra's Story.
Hi, my name is Ezra. I am only 14 months old and I need a heart transplant to live. While I wait for a suitable donor I am not allowed to leave the hospital and I need around the clock care.
In August I was only 10 months old when my heart failed. It seemed like only a cold or maybe the flu. I spent a night in hospital and the doctors made the decision to intubate me and send me to Freeman's hospital (Newcastle upon Tyne). There they gave me general anaesthetic and intubated me. I had a cardiac arrest and they found that my heart wasn't working as it should. When the transfer team arrived at the hospital to take me to Freeman's, they said I was very poorly. They didn't think I would make it. Luckily I made it, I stayed there for 4 weeks until I improved enough to go home. While I was in hospital mammy and daddy had to cancel my 1st Birthday celebrations as we did not know how long I would be in hospital for. The time in hospital allowed me to pull round enough to go home with medication, but my heart only had 20% function. At home I got to have a small party with friends and family for my Birthday.
Whilst at home I had illness after illness and in October my breathing became strained and I was sucking my tummy into my ribs, this meant another trip to the local hospital where they then sent me to Freeman's again. Day after day I became more unstable. After one full week they decided I needed to be intubated again so I could have surgery for a central line to be put in. I had to have breathing support which could not be removed.
My heart was not coping. The professionals would say 'hearts not happy' very often. Night after night I had more complications until one night I had another cardiac arrest. I survived to the next day, when I was sent for a big surgery to fit a VAD. The surgery took 5 hours, everyone was worried about me and I am now on the waiting list for a new heart. I am not allowed to leave the hospital until I have my transplant. 6 days after I had the VAD fitted, I received a Berlin Heart. This allows me to be mobile while I wait for a new heart. This could be anywhere up to 2 years as there are not many donors as small as me. Mammy and Daddy have been given a room to stay close but they are not allowed to stay with me at night. I can have visitors and my big sister can visit whenever she can. As a family we are looking forward to the school holidays so we can spend more time together.
Ezra's family have been through so much in such a short time. They've missed out on precious family time together. Ezra's big sister is missing out on time with her brother and it's such a scary time for them all. Ezra faces living in hospital for his early years which brings difficulties with it. It's my hope that there are kind people who can give just a little to help them adapt and adjust to this new family life.
Below are some links that are very important to Ezra and his family.
https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/procedures-and-treatments/berlin-heart-mechanical-heart-assist/
Organizer and beneficiary
Kayleigh Renwick
Organizer
Bianca Crawford
Beneficiary