A mother from Leicestershire has revealed the devastating medical journey of her young daughter, who suffered two cardiac arrests before her first birthday, resulting in life-altering disabilities. Three-year-old Florence Bennett was left blind, unable to walk, and without speech following the traumatic events, with doctors later diagnosing her with cerebral palsy.
A Common Cold Turns Critical
Claire Bennett, 37, from Hinckley, described how what began as a simple cold for her daughter escalated into a life-threatening nightmare. Florence experienced a cardiac arrest that left her without oxygen for a full fourteen minutes. When she regained consciousness, her parents made the heartbreaking discovery that her sight had vanished completely, alongside her ability to walk and talk.
"After all she’d been through, I couldn’t believe that a common cold was going to be the thing that could kill her," Claire said. "We were so thankful that doctors were able to keep her alive. But we couldn’t imagine the nightmare that would happen next."
Diagnosis of a Complex Heart Condition
Medical investigations revealed that Florence has been battling a serious congenital heart condition. This diagnosis means that any illness, however minor, could have severe consequences for her health. The condition was detected during Claire's 20-week pregnancy scan, casting a shadow over what should have been a joyous time.
"I was all smiles as I listened to my baby’s heartbeat; and then it was all taken away from me in a second," Claire recalled. "It was confirmed that she had three types of a congenital heart condition, though I was told it could be treated when she was six months old."
Emergency Surgery and Ongoing Battles
Florence arrived via emergency caesarean at 39 weeks when her heart rate dropped dangerously. At just four days old, she underwent open-heart surgery to insert a shunt between her heart and lungs, bypassing the essentially non-functional left side of her heart. Although the procedure was initially successful, the newborn suffered a cardiac arrest shortly afterwards.
After being discharged, Florence's oxygen levels dropped again within five days, necessitating readmission to hospital. Before reaching six months old, she required another operation to remove the shunt and connect a vein from her neck to her pulmonary artery to improve blood flow.
The Life-Changing Cardiac Arrest
Just before her first birthday in October 2023, Florence suffered the cardiac arrest that would change everything. Initially sent home with antibiotics for a suspected virus, her condition deteriorated rapidly. When medical staff revived her, Claire noticed immediate changes.
"When I saw her tiny body after they were able to revive her, I was amazed at how she had defied death once again," she explained. "But as her eyes started vacantly, with her smile gone, I realised she was completely blind."
Subsequent tests confirmed Florence had developed cerebral palsy as a result of the oxygen deprivation during her cardiac arrest.
Signs of Progress and Future Hope
Despite the challenges, there have been moments of hope. In January 2024, Florence began reacting to familiar faces, and two months later she started speaking again. She has since begun crawling and now uses a walker to strengthen her legs while undergoing speech and language therapy.
The family faces a third open-heart surgery scheduled for this summer, which they hope will complete Florence's circulation and repair her tricuspid valve. Claire has given up work to become a full-time carer for her daughter, whose condition prevents her from attending nursery.
A Family's Resilience
"Life is very different to what we ever imagined it would be having a child," Claire admitted. "Most weeks are filled with appointments and it sometimes seems never-ending. We’re very worried about her future, as I don’t know what it will look like."
Despite the uncertainty about whether Florence might need further surgical interventions or even a heart transplant, the family remains determined. They hope she might attend mainstream school and continue to draw strength from their daughter's remarkable resilience.
"Flo has taught us what true resilience is," Claire said. "She has faced everything with a smile. No matter what, we will get back up every time we are knocked down to fight for Florence. It’s taught us life is too short. If we ever feel like we’re failing as parents, we look at Flor and take her strength as an indicator that we’re doing something right."
The family now hopes that by sharing their story, they can raise awareness about congenital heart conditions and the profound impact they can have on young lives.
