A routine baby check-up turned into a terrifying nightmare for one couple when doctors discovered their newborn had a rare heart defect requiring open heart surgery. Chloe Dover, 26, and Hayden Wilson, 37, from Workington, Cumbria, were told their son Rio had a heart murmur, which is common in newborns, but further tests revealed a more serious condition.
Diagnosis and Surgery
Rio was diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis, a rare congenital heart disease affecting about eight in every 1,000 births in the UK. He had a hole in his heart and a narrow valve on his right ventricle, preventing proper blood circulation. At just four months old, Rio underwent open heart surgery, a procedure his parents described as 'absolutely terrifying.'
Ms Dover said: 'It was a whole new world learning about heart murmurs and new terms. It was heartbreaking. We were in denial at first, in tears and pure shock because he was a healthy, normal-looking baby.'
The Day of Surgery
On the day of the operation, the couple had to prepare Rio for surgery, which had been previously cancelled due to an emergency. Mr Wilson said: 'We cried on the way down to theatre. It was really upsetting because he didn't have a clue what was going on. He was just smiling the whole time.'
After four hours of surgery, the surgeon delivered the miraculous news that everything was fine. Rio's pulmonary valve was only 6mm when it should have been 10mm, yet he had not been seriously ill before the operation.
Recovery and Fundraising
Rio spent nine days in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) before being discharged. He has since made a full recovery and is now a thriving 15-month-old. His parents have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for The Sick Children's Trust, which provided them with accommodation during Rio's hospital stay.
Ms Dover said: 'Rio is really cheeky and loving. He just wants to make everyone laugh. He's a normal little boy, at nursery, walking, and his surgery scar is healing by the week.'
The couple will run the AJ Bell Great North 10k in Newcastle on July 5, marking one year and one day since Rio's surgery. They have raised over £800 so far.
Support from Charity
The Sick Children's Trust runs Scott House, which supports families with sick children in hospital by providing a welcoming place to stay near their child's bedside. It costs £40 per night to support a family, with an average stay of 15 nights. The charity's support was invaluable to the couple during their ordeal.
