Mother inspired by ‘wee heart warrior’ to raise cash for charity
A DRUMCHAPEL woman has spoken frankly about the challenges faced by her family as her daughter battles multiple heart conditions.
Ashleigh Kennedy’s “wee heart warrior” Faith is just six months old and has already had two open heart surgeries.
The baby has been in and out of intensive care at Glasgow Children’s Hospital since birth and doctors have warned that her congenital heart defect could prove “life-limiting”.
But Ashleigh, who also has a two-year-old called Paige, has been inspired by her daughter’s fighting spirit and plans to fundraise for the hospital’s charity.
“She’s just so happy,” the 27-year-old told our sister title the Clydebank Post. “If she didn’t have that NG tube (Nasogastric intubation) you wouldn’t even think there was anything wrong with her.
“She’s just a happy wee baby and takes it in her stride, I call her my wee heart warrior.”
Concerns were first brought up when Ashleigh had her 12-week scan during pregnancy, prompting a CVS test to check for Down’s syndrome.
After fluid was taken, the test showed it wasn’t Down’s and the mother-of-two was taken for a scan, which found Faith had a heart defect.
Ashleigh spoke candidly about the eventual birth of her daughter and the effect the child’s heart problems have had on her young family.
“She was in hospital until just before Christmas. Three weeks ago she had sepsis because of a wound from surgery in November and she went into intensive care again.” Faith is now back home but Ashleigh said it’s hard not knowing what the future holds.
An evening will be held at Goodyear Social Club in Drumchapel on Friday, June 29. Tickets are £5. Prizes such as stadium tours have been donated by Celtic and Rangers, while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has given a signed bottle of whisky.