Baby's 'cold' turned into open heart surgery
After her baby's symptoms didn't go away, a persistent mum insisted on finding answers.
One mother’s intuition ended up saving her baby’s life after refusing to believe her bub's ongoing cough would go away on its own.
A contributor from CafeMoms shared her harrowing tale to warn parents to always seek second-opinions when it comes to your child's health.
Although her two-year-old daughter, Maeve, had previously been admitted to hospital for breathing issues, her mother felt this time around, her cold was different.
The toddler was taken to hospital following a paediatrician's advice, but it was only the beginning for poor Maeve.
"It... was the first of many hospital stays for respiratory issues for our sweet Maeve. Each time, we were left feeling frustrated with hospitalists," wrote her mother.
Multiple doctors assured her that Maeve was "fine", insisting it was croup or a throat infection, but when one of her pupil's became enlarged, there was cause for alarm.
"Her eyes looked crazy. She looked like the Terminator. I immediately texted my friend," she wrote.
"'I think that Maeve has something called Horner’s syndrome...' This friend, as it turns out, was a Godsend."
Maeve was taken to Emergency straightaway where she was admitted for testing.
Because Horner's syndrome is a mask for something else, doctors worked to figure out the cause.
Finally - the answer was revealed.
"After some back and forth with the cardiologist, we had an answer. Maeve did have a full vascular ring. She had what’s called a right aortic arch, left subclavian artery and a Kommerell’s Diverticulm. Essentially, her aorta went in a different direction," the blog detailed.
Weeks went by before little Maeve was able to have heart surgery to correct her health issues, but it wasn't before long before she was on the road to recovery.
"I was reminded of, and so thankful for, that nagging instinct that I couldn’t shake -- and all of the miraculous steps -- that led us to have her surgery when and where we did. It sounds cliche, but I shudder to think what could’ve happened if we didn’t," her mum wrote.
Liz Tse is the Digital Content Manager across the Entertainment sites. When she's not discussing the latest sick and twisted true crime cases, you'll find her playing with her staffy, Frankie, or planning her next adventurous getaway.
