ππΆ HER HEART WAS BARELY FUNCTIONING β LITTLE NEIVE FOUGHT THROUGH A RARE HEART CONDITION AND A 9Β½-HOUR SURGERY β€οΈβπ©Ήβ¨
When little Neive was born, her parents had no reason to believe that their baby girl was facing a life-threatening heart condition.
The pregnancy had been completely normal.
Apart from a slightly blue nose and some difficulty feeding, there was little to suggest that anything was seriously wrong. πΆπ
But within just a few months, subtle changes began to appear.
Neive was drinking less than her older sister Olivia had at the same age.
She developed a strange cough.
She became pale and unusually sleepy.
She was increasingly clingy.
And one day, her mother noticed something especially concerning β even Neive’s little arm seemed too weak to stay raised. π
Her mother knew something wasn’t right.
She contacted medical services and was advised to take Neive to a walk-in centre.
What happened next would change their lives forever. π’
ππ HER CONDITION DETERIORATED RAPIDLY
When Neive arrived at the medical centre, her breathing was extremely fast and her heart rate was dangerously low.
She was immediately given oxygen and rushed by ambulance to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. π₯π
Her mother could see that something was terribly wrong.
Neive barely reacted to the examinations and needles.
She simply lay still.
The little girl who had once been full of life suddenly seemed incredibly fragile. π
A cardiac specialist from Freeman Hospital performed urgent tests and scans.
Within hours, Neive was transferred there.
And by the time she arrived, doctors discovered that her heart was barely functioning.
π«π A RARE HEART CONDITION
Neive was diagnosed with ALCAPA syndrome, a rare congenital heart condition in which the left coronary artery develops from the pulmonary artery instead of the aorta.
This can prevent the heart muscle from receiving enough oxygen-rich blood and may lead to severe heart failure. π«π₯
For Neive’s parents, the diagnosis was terrifying.
Their baby girl needed emergency open-heart surgery.
There was no time to waste.
And the operation would last an astonishing nine and a half hours. π’β€οΈβπ©Ή
Her mother later recalled asking nurses whether her daughter was going to survive.
She was terrified.
All she wanted was to remain close to her little girl and know that she was still there. π₯Ήπ
π₯π SIX WEEKS LIVING JUST MINUTES FROM THEIR BABY
While Neive fought for her life in hospital, her parents needed somewhere to stay nearby.
They found support through Scott House, operated by The Sick Children’s Trust.
Although the family lived locally, having accommodation only minutes from the hospital meant they could remain close to Neive during those frightening weeks. β€οΈ
For six weeks, Scott House became their home.
Her parents took turns staying beside Neive, resting and working whenever they could.
At the same time, they had to continue caring for Neive’s older sister, Olivia. π§π
Being close to the hospital gave them something incredibly important:
The reα΄ssurance that if anything happened, they could be beside their daughter within minutes. π
β€οΈβπ©Ήπ₯ HER FIGHT WASN’T OVER AFTER SURGERY
Neive remained at Freeman Hospital for 12 weeks as she recovered from her operation and faced additional challenges.
She required prolonged breathing support and eventually needed a tracheostomy.
Doctors also discovered that one of the valves in her heart was leaking, although her family was reα΄ssured that it might improve naturally over time. π©Ίπ
There were still uncertainties.
Still more medical care.
Still plenty for her family to worry about.
But Neive kept fighting. π
π₯Ήπ THEN SHE STARTED TO THRIVE
Today, you might never guess how seriously ill Neive once was.
Apart from the tube near her nose, she looks like a little girl enjoying childhood.
She is crawling around.
She is eager to pull herself up.
She is working toward taking her first steps.
And most importantly, she is smiling with her big sister Olivia. π£πβ¨
After everything her tiny body has endured, seeing Neive crawl, play and interact with her family has become something incredibly precious.
Her parents no longer take ordinary moments for granted.
πΈπ EVERY DAY FEELS LIKE A GIFT
For Neive’s family, the simple things have become the most meaningful.
Watching her crawl.
Seeing her smile.
Watching her grow stronger.
Seeing her enjoy time with Olivia.
These are moments they once feared they might never experience. π₯Ήβ€οΈ
Her journey began with subtle warning signs that quickly became a medical emergency.
Her heart was barely functioning.
She needed emergency open-heart surgery.
She spent weeks in hospital.
She required prolonged breathing support.
And yet, she kept moving forward. πͺπ
πβ¨ A LITTLE GIRL WHO REFUSED TO BE DEFINED BY HER START
Neive’s story is a reminder that sometimes the most frightening chapters can be followed by moments of extraordinary hope.
Her diagnosis remains serious.
Her medical team will continue monitoring her closely.
But today, Neive is doing something wonderfully ordinary:
She’s growing up. πΆπ
She is crawling.
She is smiling.
She is discovering the world around her.
And she is getting closer to taking those first independent steps. π£π
For her parents, every new milestone carries a meaning that few people could fully understand.
Because they know just how close they came to losing her.
And they know how hard their little girl fought to be here. β€οΈβπ©Ή
Neive’s heart may have once been barely functioning, but her determination to keep going has been extraordinary.
Today, every smile, every crawl and every new step is a precious reminder that she is here β growing stronger, surrounded by love, and finally getting the chance to simply be a little girl. ππΆπβ¨
