The 12-hour open heart surgery which saved star jockey’s baby son
Hong Kong-bound Queensland jockey Ben Thompson has laid bare the scariest time of his life, when his newborn baby son underwent lifesaving open heart surgery when he was just 13 days old.
The marathon 12-hour procedure saved young Harry’s life after he was born with a condition called TGA (transposition of the great arteries), a serious and rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed.
They were exceptionally worrying times in September last year for Thompson and his jockey wife Stephanie Thornton.
The uplifting news is that more than four months on, Harry, who left hospital when aged six weeks, has recovered well and has no ongoing health problems.
“Harry is going super and he made a great recovery,” Thompson said.
“Steph and I kept all this to ourselves in the early days of our son’s life but we will forever be grateful to the big medical team and all those who supported us.
“As soon as Harry was born – within minutes – they did a (medical) procedure.
“It was done straight away to leave a spot in the heart open for surgery.
“Harry arrived via elective Csection, so all the specialists who needed to be there could be there. Then, on day 13, Harry had openheart surgery and was in the theatre for 12 hours.
“Ultimately, he couldn’t have survived without them doing this. The cardiologists are delighted with how the surgery went and we now take care of Harry just like a regular little boy.”
The tumultuous times have been replaced with joy. Harry’s recovery has been followed by an unexpected but golden chance for Group 1winning jockey Thompson to ride on a short-time stint in the lucrative Hong Kong racing mecca.
Thompson leaves next week for Hong Kong, where he will be accompanied by Harry and Stephanie, who will make her return to riding at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Stephanie, who hasn’t ridden since her pregnancy, will take one ride on Saturday for her father, trainer Glenn Thornton.