Life-saving work of hospital cardiac staff and fundraisers

From: Susan M Churm, Windsor Close, Shaw Cross, Dewsbury.

in response to your article “Hiatus over heart shake-up” (Yorkshire Post, February 5), I too, gave birth to a child with a congenital heart defect in March 1982. His life was saved after a “blue lights with siren” ambulance ride on a busy Saturday afternoon to Killingbeck Hospital, Leeds. The child’s heart rate was 160 beats per minute and his breathing was strange.

The welcome we got from the staff there was comforting and instant. They quickly got him “dripped” up and the necessary doctors and equipment immediately appeared to stabilise him and keep him alive. We were there for about four weeks, when every test necessary was done.

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The staff were brilliant and I soon found faith in them. The distance from our home in Ossett to Leeds was minimal, so I had visits from my family, which were very necessary for my peace of mind, with two teenage sons at home. If we had been sent to Newcastle or Liverpool, I would have had much less support and news from home.

In Ossett, I soon found other groups who wanted me to help with fundraising, including The Association for Children with Heart Disorders, and we raised money for the building of the “bungalow” at Killingbeck for parents and families to stay in when finding themselves in such traumatic situations. We also raised money for a “lite source” (a technical monitoring machine) which we presented to the nurse who found me a toothbrush so I could stay with my son in hospital. She was a lovely person who we were all proud of. She even came to Ossett and gave us talks about the importance of teeth hygiene in cardiac children and the dangers of pierced ears.

I also helped with the Ossett branch of the British Heart Foundation where we raised money for heart research.

After three heart operations, one open heart surgery lasting five hours, my son was a different person. Instead of me pushing him in a buggy to school, he could now run up the hill and his face changed from being red-cheeked to light skinned. His migraines stopped and he slept through the night for the first time. We were told in those days that the aim was that every child should have a childhood, which they gave him, and the fact that he had learning disabilities was to us irrelevant because he was alive.

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He has been well since, until about two or three years ago, when it was discovered that he had a valve problem. This came as a real shock to him, as he thought that he would never have to go into hospital again.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what has been decided – to leave well alone, an operation, transplant or other treatment because I haven’t been told.

Yes, the new children’s cardiac hospital should be kept open. I also imagine a lot of people have raised money towards it and its equipment.

From: Wendy Field, Spellowgate Close, Driffield.

I WOULD like to say how dismayed I was to read about Sienna Singleton (Yorkshire Post, February 5) with the rare heart condition and who may possibly require a third operation. What a happy girl and mother. It is beyond belief that this hospital, of only a year old, may close and that children may have to go to Newcastle or London for treatment or operations, apart from the trauma and possibility of a serious outcome. Do the parents have facilities to be with their child and maybe other children?

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I would also like to endorse the article written by Joan Woodcock (Yorkshire Post, February 7) relating to the standard of nursing in the 1960s when she would take her training without a university degree! Nurses during that period took their training very seriously with dedication and care, whatever task was given to them under the guidance of senior staff and matron.

Observing the photographs of the students in their very smart uniforms, you can see how standards have slipped.