Heart baby Theo’s homecoming cut short by op

By Phil Coleman

Last updated 11:45, Monday, 15 September 2008

A HAPPY homecoming for a Keswick baby born with a heart defect has been cut short.

tears in heaven: Theo’s mother and father Rebecca Giles and Ryan Davies help to bear the tiny blue coffin

One-year-old Theo Davies spent only a couple of weeks at home with his proud parents Rebecca Giles and Ryan Davies, both 22.

And now the tiny tot has had to undergo another 12-hour life saving operation in Newcastle.

In July, doctors feared Theo had only two weeks to live if a donor heart could not be found for a transplant.

Already having endured six operations, Theo had amazed doctors when he began breathing independently, and became well enough to go home with his parents for the first time in ten weeks.

But this week they described how their son’s homecoming was dramatically cut short when they noticed the tell-tale signs that his heart was failing.

In mid-August, just two weeks after he was allowed home, Rebecca and Ryan saw their son rushed back into intensive care at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

He has remained there for the last month, and is now battling against infection and still on a ventilator.

Rebecca said: “We noticed in the second week that Theo had started to get a bit worse.

“He’s usually a lovely, happy baby but when we got home with him he wasn’t his usual smiling self.

“We noticed swelling to his face and called the ward for advice. We gave him oxygen and took him there the next day and they rushed him straight to intensive care.”

Two surgeons worked for 12 hours, effectively carrying out three major operations during one stint of surgery.

They were able to repair a faulty heart valve and correct narrowing of a major artery, giving Theo the time he needs so that he can eventually have his transplant.

Once again, Theo’s tenacity surprised doctors.

Rebecca said: “The doctors said he’d definitely end up on a life-support machine but he never did, though he has needed a ventilator.

“His temperature started to come down at the weekend.”

Theo’s parents have spent the last month at their son’s bedside, hoping and praying that he can beat the infection he now has.

Rebecca paid tribute to the medical staff for their professionalism and dedication, saying: “I can’t believe what they can do: they’re marvellous.”

One complication is that the antibodies in his system could attack a new heart when he is give one, but doctors believe they can flush his system before an transplant.

Rebecca added: “He came off the ventilator briefly and we were able to hold him.

“He’s back on it now but we can touch him and hold his hand.

“He’s squeezed my hand when I do that.”