‘We will love him as much as we can for as long as we can’
FAMILY OF BABY GEORGE FEAR HE WILL NOT LIVE BEYOND THE YEAR
THE parents of a baby boy born with only half a working heart fear he will not live beyond the end of this year.
Charlotte and Ben Jackson, of Littleover, want to spend as much time as they can with 11-monthold George, who is seriously ill in hospital in Leicester.
A DEVASTATED ambulance worker fears her baby will not see through the New Year – after being born with half a working heart.
The parents of 11-month-old George Jackson say they will love their son “as much as they can for as long as they can” after he was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome earlier this year.
Mum Charlote Jackson, 28, who is an ambulance technician for East Midlands Ambulance Service, has only been allowed to hold her baby once in two weeks as he continues to fight for his life in hospital.
The youngster, from Littleover, has undergone numerous unsuccessful open heart surgeries in an attempt to create blood circulation using only half of his heart.
Now friends of the family are raising funds to take pressure off the parents as they battle through this difficult time.
EMAS paramedic and colleague Cheryl Scott, who set up the gofundme page, is hoping the money will allow Mr and Mrs Jackson to take more time off work to be with their poorly son. The funds will also help cover expenses like travelling to and from Glenfield Hospital in Leicester where George is being treated. Ms Scott said: “Charlotte has spent years caring for others and helping them in their time of need in her job. It would be nice if we could help her and her family in their time of need.
“When I asked Charlotte if she was allowed to cuddle him she said she has had one cuddle in two weeks as she is not allowed to hold him.
“How sad when your baby is so ill and the first thing you want to do is comfort them. It breaks my heart.”
Unfortunately, Baby George has fallen very ill following his most recent heart surgery as his valve repair failed.
Mrs Jackson and husband Ben Jackson, 33, said George’s recent condition has been going “steadily downhill” and has been “really tough” on the family.
“Just imagine your child being seriously ill in hospital being sedated and on ventilators and having had open heart surgery on numerous occasions already despite being only 11 monthsold,” Cheryl continued.
“Then on top of that having the worry of paying your bills and mortgage.
“The stress Charlotte and Ben have to go though all the time not knowing if their baby will survive or pull through his next op or survive the day or night is heartbreaking.”
George was recently found to have a deep infection inside his chest and needed chest drains to wash out the virus.
Medics had to abort his following operation in order to correct the valve and allow him to recover from two unsuccessful open heart surgeries in just one week.
George’s most recent scan showed that his heart is pumping 50 per cent of what is going into it back out, meaning it is not able to function effectively.
The blood flowing back is also going into George’s liver and is damaging his kidneys.
For more information, or to make a donation to the Jackson family, please visit www.gofundme.com/supportfor-baby-george-and-his-lovely-family.
How sad when your baby is so ill and you just want to comfort them. It breaks my heart. Cheryl Scott