~In The News

Below is a pic and the story which appeared in the Weekend Australian - November 23-24, 2002.

Mrs Crisp with James                          Pic by Ross Swanborough

MESSAGE OF HOPE AS HEART BOY STILL FIGHTS FOR LIFE.

As three week old Nathan Garcia continued to struggle for life yesterday in intensive care at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, Joanne Crisp sent him and his parents a message of hope from Perth.

Two years ago, Joanne's son James had the same critical heart surgery in Melbourne to correct his heart defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and today James is like any other healthy two year old.

Nathan's plight was reported last week in the Weekend Australian, and his parents Brian and Monique Garcia, from Perth endured a roller-coaster week in which they saw their son off the ventilator, then back on it after contracting an infection.

Mrs Crisp, at home in Burswood with James, tried to contact the Royal Children's Hospital to tell the Garcias:  "Take one step at a time and never, ever give up hope."

James had two cardiac arrests and repeated surgery by specialist Christian Brizard to save his life after he was born with the defect at Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital on Ocotber3, 2000.

He was transferred to the children's hospital for the surgery when two days old, spent three weeks in the intensive care and was not discharged until he was 14 weeks old.

Mrs Crisp, 30 said:  "At one stage the intensive care staff told us 'I'm afraid he's crashed in a heap, and it doesn't look good.'  So we sat outside and prayed.

It was amazing he survived.  But his heart function has gradually improved to the point where it's normal.

"He gets breathless, but otherwise he does everything any other two year-old does - goes to play group, the park and the beach."

Nathan went back into surgery on Thursday for repairs to his left diaphragm, and he has since developed a bowel infection.  With extra tubes now draining his stomach and lungs, the number of lines keeping him alive in intensive care has risen to 20.

Thursday brought the Garcias more mixed emotions.  Nathan opened his eyes for the first time since major surgery eight days before, but his parents were shocked by his grey colour.

Their spirits rose yesterday when he regained some colour.  "We're not giving up hope," said Mr Garcia.

Story by Richard Yallop

 

Campaigning from the heart
By SANDRA PETERSON
09feb03

HAVING half a heart hasn't stopped toddler James Crisp living life to the max.

The energetic two-year-old's zipper-like scar, which his parents Peter, 39, and Joanne, 30, call his badge of courage, is a permanent reminder of the life-saving heart surgeries he endured just after entering the world in October 2000.

James was born with a severe heart defect – hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The left side of his heart hadn't formed properly and couldn't pump blood. Without surgery the condition is fatal. With surgery, the survival rate is about 80 per cent. The Crisps moved to Melbourne so their son could be treated by specialists at the Royal Children's Hospital. And after four operations, two cardiac arrests and 14-weeks James was declared fit enough to go home. Today, his parents, back at home in Burswood, have their hands full with a very active two-year-old. "He still gets a bit breathless but apart from that he's like most other two-year-olds," Mrs Crisp said. Doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital monitor James's progress every six months to determine if he'll need another operation. "He has such a zest for living, it's almost as if being here requires him to live life to the full," Mrs Crisp said.

Now Mrs Crisp, in conjunction with Heart Kids WA and Australian HLHS Information Network, is campaigning to raise awareness about congenital heart defects and offer assistance to parents who make mercy dashes to Melbourne to save their newborns. "Until it happened to our family we never realised heart disease was such a problem among children," she said. "Although it's meant to have a genetic component, we went through our family histories and couldn't find anyone who died as the result of a heart condition." According to the Australian Children's Heart Research Centre, heart disease is the leading cause of child deaths in Australia – accounting for more than 30 per cent. More than 2000 babies are born with a congenital heart defect each year and many others acquire heart diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension, heart-muscle disease and rheumatic heart disease, during childhood. More than half of them are admitted to intensive-care units after surgery, making it the most common reason for ICU admissions among Australian children.

 February 14, Valentine's Day, is National Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day.

People wanting to donate to Heart Kids WA can call 9388 9238. To donate to the Australian HLHS Information Network call 9361 1314.

To return to James page click here