Rio’s Story Our Little Warrior

On Thursday 12th February, we took our baby Rio to Poole Hospital because he was sucking in while breathing and just wasn’t himself. Because Rio has severe aortic stenosis, we’re always that little bit more cautious and this time I’m so grateful we were.

Once we arrived at Poole, Rio deteriorated quickly. He was struggling to breathe and his heart rate rose to 188. It was terrifying. Poole contacted Southampton straight away, as they know Rio well due to his heart condition. We had actually been seen the day before and were told surgery would be needed soon as his valve had worsened slightly.

Southampton advised it would be best for their team to come and get him. They explained he would need to be sedated to keep him comfortable and reduce strain on his heart, as he would be going straight into PICU.

When the Southampton team arrived, three of the loveliest, calmest people, they explained every step to me. I was completely shaken, but they comforted me in ways I’ll never forget. In the ambulance they reassured me constantly and supported me the whole way.

Walking into PICU was overwhelming, but we were greeted by the most incredible team who got straight to work making Rio comfortable, while also making sure I was okay.

They arranged overnight accommodation for me and his dad and said they would refer us to Ronald McDonald House so we could stay close with our other son, Romeo. Even in the middle of everything, they were thinking about our whole family.

That first night they answered every question, eased every worry, and talked us through what the week might look like.

Each day we received amazing updates about how strong Rio was being. On Sunday night we were told he would likely need support for a full week, but by Monday morning we were told he had done so well overnight they wanted to trial him off and onto airflow. He smashed it. Over the next two days he just kept getting stronger.

We then spent some time on E1 ward, but the PICU team will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Aoife, Elly, Nicola, Shauna, Georgia and Phoebe were just some of the incredible girls who looked after Rio with such care and kindness. Every nurse spoke to him, comforted him in ways we do at home, and made him feel safe. They played Peter Rabbit stories on their Tonie Box for him and used white noise after physio to keep him settled. They treated him like the precious little boy he is.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Kerrie, who brought a lovely gift for Romeo to help him through such a hard week for our family. That small act of kindness meant so much to us.

While we were there, we were also prepared for what comes next. In 2 to 3 weeks, our brave baby boy will need open heart surgery. The team explained everything about how that admission will look, guided us to the right people for our questions, and reassured us by sharing how well so many children go on to do after their surgery.

Because of how they cared for our son and knowing how they will care for him again when we return for his surgery, we want to show our gratitude and kindness in return. We are asking if anyone is able to donate, no matter how small, it would be so appreciated for this incredible team.

You never know when you might need them until that moment comes.

All funds raised will go towards toys and sensory equipment for the children, helping the team get more ambulances so they can reach more families in emergencies, and supporting improvements to the overnight stay area they are planning to redecorate, making such a difficult place feel a little more comforting for families like ours.

We will forever be grateful to the team who helped bring our little warrior home safely.

you are able to donate, no matter how small, it would mean the world to us and to the families who will need this incredible team in the future. And if you can’t donate, simply sharing Rio’s story could help us reach someone who can. These teams save lives every single day. We never imagined we would need them until that moment came, and now we know just how vital they are. Let’s help them continue doing the amazing work they do for so many children and families like ours