A newborn baby underwent a critical operation to correct a life-threatening heart condition just moments after he was delivered at a Portsmouth hospital.
A Joyful Birth Turns to Crisis
Alice Morby, 30, experienced a healthy pregnancy and was overjoyed when she gave birth to her son, George Morby, weighing 7lb 3oz, at Queen Alexandra Hospital on 20 November last year. However, the elation of first-time parents Alice and Danny Cussen, 36, was shattered within minutes. Medical staff became immediately concerned about baby George's breathing and his complexion, leading them to whisk him away for urgent assessment.
"I became hysterical," Alice admitted. "I screamed at the doctors, 'I don't want the baby to die, please save him'." The infant was blue-lighted to the specialist cardiac unit at Southampton General Hospital for emergency surgery, with his stunned parents following behind in their car.
The Race to 'Replumb' a Tiny Heart
George was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (TGA), a condition where the heart's two main arteries are swapped, or 'plumbed backwards'. This prevents oxygen-rich blood from circulating properly around the body. To save his life, surgeons performed a gruelling six-hour procedure.
Initially, doctors created a hole in George's heart to allow blood to mix, providing a temporary solution. A week later, he underwent a full arterial switch operation to permanently correct the defect by swapping the arteries back to their correct positions.
Danny, a tail lift engineer from Fareham, Hampshire, described the agonising wait. "It was devastating, we honestly thought he was going to die. We didn't sleep for about 56 hours," he said. The parents endured two weeks of sleepless nights in a nearby hotel, unable to see or touch their son while he was in intensive care.
A Long Road to Recovery
Following the second surgery, the couple finally experienced a moment of profound relief. "We're smiles all round whenever he opens his eyes," Danny shared. "We've only ever seen his eyes open three or four times, so we just look into his eyes and show him that we're here."
While George continues his recovery in hospital and may not be allowed home for another month, his parents cherish the small victories. "Even just being able to hold him, to hold his hand - those have been the best moments," Danny said. "Your heart goes hot and your blood goes warm, it feels nice to have him right next to you."
George will require lifelong monitoring, with monthly checkups until he is around two years old and ongoing care into adulthood. "We feel relieved that he's not going to be left alone, he'll be monitored and under the best care," his father added.
The family has been supported by a GoFundMe appeal, which has raised £1,277 of a £1,500 target to help with costs while they stay near the hospital. Danny described the response as "overwhelming" and a "massive weight off our shoulders".
