Ivy was born in June 2021, and from the moment she entered the world, her parents, Bernice and her partner, were filled with the joy and anticipation of welcoming their perfect little girl. But within days, they began to notice that something wasn’t quite right. Despite being reassured by doctors that everything was fine, Ivy’s health took a sudden and terrifying turn when she was just four days old.
It all started when Ivy became unusually sleepy and refused to feed. As any mother would, Bernice immediately sensed that something was wrong. After trying to get help, she called 999. The ambulance arrived, but Ivy’s oxygen levels were dangerously low, around 40%. During the ride to the hospital, Ivy suffered a cardiac arrest. The paramedics worked quickly to revive her, but upon arriving at the hospital, Ivy was in critical condition once again.
In total, Ivy was without a heartbeat for 45 minutes. The hospital team worked tirelessly to save her, and their efforts ultimately brought her back. It was in those harrowing moments that Ivy was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum, a rare and serious heart condition that prevented her heart from pumping blood correctly. Ivy was immediately transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where doctors feared she may have suffered brain damage due to the lack of oxygen. However, CT scans showed that her brain was, thankfully, unaffected.
Despite the overwhelming relief of her survival, Ivy’s journey was only beginning. At nearly one month old, Ivy underwent heart surgery to try to correct her condition. The procedure was a catheterization aimed at ballooning her valve to allow blood flow. However, this attempt was unsuccessful, and doctors had to stop the procedure. A few days later, Ivy’s condition worsened, and she was placed on ECMO, a life-support system, to give her body time to recover.
It was during this challenging period that doctors decided to attempt heart surgery once again. This time, the surgery was successful. The next day, Ivy was taken off ECMO, marking a major step forward in her recovery. But Ivy still faced a long road ahead. After spending 89 days in the PICU, she was transferred to a general ward, and then later back to their local hospital. Four months after her birth, Ivy was finally discharged and brought home.
Bernice and her partner are forever grateful to the hospital team that worked relentlessly to save Ivy’s life. They know that if Ivy’s condition had been detected earlier—either during pregnancy or soon after birth—her journey could have been less traumatic. That’s why they feel passionate about raising awareness of congenital heart disease (CHD) and supporting organizations like Tiny Tickers, who work tirelessly to ensure that heart defects are detected early and families can better prepare for the challenges ahead.
Ivy’s Update – 2024: A Fighter Against the Odds
Fast forward to 2024, and Ivy is now a vibrant three-year-old who is doing incredibly well. Despite the difficult start to her life, Ivy has flourished in ways her parents never thought possible. She is now a confident, independent little girl, and her parents are deeply thankful for every moment they get to spend with her.
Bernice reflects on the pain and heartache of not having a diagnosis earlier in her pregnancy and how it impacted their lives. “If Ivy’s condition had been detected during the antenatal scans, it would have saved us all from the heartache and trauma we will have to live with for the rest of our lives,” she says. The trauma they went through will never fade, but Ivy’s progress offers them hope and a bright future.
Ivy’s Update – 2025: Thriving and Living Life
Now four years old, Ivy has started school and is thriving in every sense of the word. She’s doing everything her parents once thought might never happen. Ivy is growing stronger every day, attending seven-month check-ups with her cardiologist, and the results are promising. Her heart valve is holding up well, and her last echo showed no signs of concern.
Ivy’s love for life is evident in everything she does. She has been riding her little pony, Sooty, since she was just one year old and is now competing in shows. She also enjoys gymnastics and swimming. Ivy is fearless and full of energy, and her parents are amazed by how independent and sassy she has become.
Even though Ivy is doing wonderfully now, Bernice and her partner take each day as it comes. They remember the struggles of those early days in the hospital, but they are beyond grateful to see their little girl grow, laugh, and experience life in ways they never imagined possible.
A Lasting Legacy: Raising Awareness for CHD
The impact of Ivy’s journey has inspired Bernice and her partner to advocate for better early detection of congenital heart defects. Ivy’s story is a reminder that CHD doesn’t always show up in routine scans, and many babies are sent home without a diagnosis, only to face a life-threatening emergency later on. The fact that a simple oxygen check could detect heart defects like Ivy’s and prevent such traumatic experiences is something that Bernice is passionate about.
She urges everyone to support organizations like Tiny Tickers, which raises funds to place oximeters in maternity units across the country and trains sonographers to detect heart defects in utero. These early screenings can save lives, and Ivy’s story is a testament to how critical early detection is in ensuring that babies like her have a fighting chance.
Ivy’s journey is one of triumph, resilience, and hope. Her story is a reminder that even the smallest fighters can overcome the biggest challenges. Her parents will forever be grateful for the medical professionals who cared for her, and they’ll continue to raise awareness and share Ivy’s journey to help other families facing similar struggles. Ivy is a shining example of strength and courage, and her parents couldn’t be prouder of the little girl she’s becoming.
