Help support Theia's recovery journey

Dear Friends & Family,

You may have noticed Phil and Daisy have been a bit quiet recently as they have been in Bristol Children’s Hospital with their beautiful baby girl, Theia since just after Christmas.

To give you an insight, Theia was diagnosed just after her 1st Birthday with a Congenital Heart Condition known as a Partial Atrioventricular Septum Defect and both of her valves were leaking, they were made aware at the time that Theia would need surgery fairly soon to repair her heart. The condition has affected her health and physical development but despite this she is the smartest, happiest, smiliest little girl you will ever meet.

On 21st December 2023, they ended up being admitted to North Devon District Hospital as Theia had caught a virus and needed help with her breathing. The decision was then made on 28th that she should be transferred to Bristol Royal Childrens Hospital for the specialist team to continue her care and with the aim for her to have the heart operation as soon as she had recovered from the infection. Even though she was so unwell she stayed her happy, chatty self and has been an inspiration to us all.

Unfortunately, although Theia had recovered from the virus the decision to operate was not made quickly enough and Theia’s heart failure grew rapidly worse and whilst on PICU she suffered from a cardiac arrest. She was placed on an ECMO machine (heart and lung bypass) before going to surgery the following day. She came out of surgery unsupported and was recovering well but managed to contract the flu only 4 days after surgery. The decision was made to place her back on the ECMO machine to give her heart and lungs time to recover from the flu and everything she had been through previously. Theia spent 20 days on ECMO, which was unheard of at BRHC.

After being extubated and coping really well with less breathing support they were finally discharged from PICU after 59 days and have now moved to the Cardiac Ward to continue her recovery. They have no idea of the recovery time ahead of them but they know that Theia will get there when she is ready. She is receiving lots of support to build her strength back up again as she has no muscle tone or strength and is unable to speak due to being sedated and ventilated for such a long period. Doctors are unsure if there have been any changes to her brain after the arrest but we all continue to believe that Theia will make a full recovery and be unharmed after her experience and return at full strength, bright, chatty and more wise than she was before.

Her Mum and Dad have remained at Theia’s side 24 hours a day splitting shifts between them to ensure she is never alone and to comfort and reassure her. Theia has remained their number 1 priority although as you can imagine this time away from home has come at a cost, and whilst money isn’t important it is necessary when other aspects of life still continue and working is not possible at this time. Cost of living away from home is expensive and frustratingly they aren’t entitled to any support financially.

Any help you are able to give to help with the financial strain they are facing would be an enormous help and gratefully received whilst they continue dedicating their love and energy to Theia and her recovery. They remain positive and determined of what their future looks like as a three and if all you can share is a prayer or healing then they welcome that with love and blessings.

Thank you