10
Wednesday May 18, 2011
The Sun
one on one with the Sun
t r a e h n o i l e h t Liam By Celeste Lodewyk The nine hour surgery at first appeared sucExpectant parents Michele and Phil Barrett cessful, but only hours later Michele and Phil were thrilled when they were told they were were phoned and told Liam was dying, and that expecting their second child. they needed to get back as soon as possible. But at their 20 week ultrasound their excite“Phil dropped the phone and ran and I folment was quickly replaced with a feeling of lowed as fast as I could, considering I was still fear – fear for their unborn baby boy who was recovering from the caesarean,” Michele says. diagnosed with four separate heart conditions. Liam’s heart had arrested but thanks to At that stage Michelle and Phil were told the efforts of the nurses and the help from a that their baby’s heart would be relatively ECMO machine, Liam’s body slowly regained simple to fix, however toward the end of the his strength and put on enough weight to be pregnancy the baby had stopped growing and allowed home. had the umbilical cord wrapped around his After their 11 week long, terrifying ordeal neck six times. the Barrett family finally had their Liam home. This called for an immediate response and Today, Liam is an energetic, robust and happy baby Liam was born six weeks prematurely by little boy but still needs close monitoring and emergency caesarean at Wairau Hospital, 28 yearly checks with specialists. July 2008, weighing in at a tiny 1.8kg. There is a chance that Liam may need “It was a heart wrenching moment for me as surgery in the near future, but for now the I was only able to see a photo of Liam after Barrett family is remaining positive and is he was born and a quick glimpse of him in looking to support other local families with the incubator before he was Heart Children. taken away and flown to “I was only able “I joined Heart Child when I was Auckland,” recalls Michele. pregnant and found the advice and Life Flight took Liam and to see a photo support from Blenheim @ Heart Phil to Auckland before of Liam after he family support worker Bronwyn returning for Michele the was born and a Cooke invaluable. next day. “We hope by sharing our story Liam was first admitted quick glimpse that people will help to support our into the Neonatal Intensive of him in the fundraising efforts and if there are Care Unit (NICU) as he who are going through a incubator before families was breathing unassisted similar experience, to make contact and was relatively stable and he was taken with Bronwyn,” she says. strong for his tiny size. Blenheim @ Heart is hosting away and flown After 10 days Liam had a “Heart Stopper Challenge” on not put on any weight and to Auckland” May 28 at the Marlborough Lines quickly deteriorated and was Stadium 2000. then taken to the Paediatric Intensive Care The challenge involves teams of Unit (PICU). four or six taking a plunge into an At two weeks of age and just 1.6kg in weight, icy pool for five minutes. The inspitiny Liam had open heart surgery. ration for the event is based on the Because Liam had a Double Outlet Right 450 open heart surgeries performed Ventricle, Transposition of the Great Arter- in New Zealand every year. ies, a Ventricular Septal Defect and an Atrial During surgery a child’s chest Septal Defect, surgeons had to take Liam’s cavity is cooled down in an icy heart out of his chest to do an arterial switch slush to slow their heart rate. and patch up the holes. There is no entry fee to participate “It was a terrifying moment when we saw but team members are asked to him after surgery, his chest was left open for pledge to raise $100 to support the 3 days to let the swelling down and there were work of @ Heart. For more information contact tubes going everywhere,” says Michele. Liam’s brother Riley who was three-years at Bronwyn on 03 578 8801 or visit the the time held his hand and told him, “You be website www.heartstopper.org.nz brave little brother”.
Ashwood Park RETIREMENT VILL AGE
Above: Liam Barrett (right), with his adoring brother Riley, is today a robust, energetic and happy little boy after being born with a serious heart condition. Left: Baby Liam at two weeks of age underwent life-saving open heart surgery.
NOW AVAILABLE ...a semi-independent luxury lifestyle Ashwood Park Retirement Village’s new units at Ashwood on Colemans provide the opportunity for residents to retain maximum independence yet enjoying on-site care. Studio and apartment units are ready to move into immediately. Residents purchase a licence to occupy and have full access to all of Ashwood Park’s on-site facilities.
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Ashwood
ON COLEMANS
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Enjoy companionship and security in beautiful manicured surroundings close to amenities...