Little George to get his heart op at long last
Family’s relief after three postponements
An East Kilbride baby who has had his life-saving operation cancelled three times will finally have surgery on Friday.
Eighteen-week-old George Tait should have had vital heart surgery within eight weeks of his condition, atrioventricular septal defect, being diagnosed.
But nine weeks later, the tot is still awaiting surgery as his condition deteriorates.
It causes abnormal blood flow into the lungs and, without surgery, George will not survive.
His mum Jade, 23, a make-up artist, and dad Dylan, 22, a police officer, told our sister paper, the Daily Record, that their little boy was getting weaker and was now vomiting a couple of times a day because of the excess fluid in his lungs.
They feared he would die before he could get the operation.
Heartbroken Jade said: “George always had a smile on his face but in the past four or five days he is not smiling half as much.
“We feel he is now feeling the effects of his condition.
“He is more clingy. He used to be happy to sit in his baby swing but now he is only calm when he is in our arms.”
Jade had been told by their consultant that George would need surgery within eight weeks, but that time has passed, leaving his parents petrified.
A spokeswoman for Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board said that while they had cancelled two of George’s operations, the third was postponed because he had been unwell.
The health board apologised for the delay to the infant’s surgery and said they hoped they would be able to do it before the end of the month.
However, after George’s story hit the headlines, the Westwood couple got a call to say his operation would now be taking place this week.
Jade said: “The receptionist from the ward was in contact with us and we have to take George in for his pre-op on Wednesday [today] before his surgery on Friday.
“Thank you so much...we really appreciate the help.”
Labour’s health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “I thank the Daily Record for again taking up the case of a family that has been let down by NHS managers.
“I’m sure the story of George will have moved all readers.
“I wish this case was unique but we know that patients are being failed every day.
“It shouldn’t take a family having to be brave enough to share their personal circumstances in a newspaper for MSPs to raise cases directly in Parliament so patients get vital treatment or medicines.
“But sadly it seems it does.”
He’ll be going in on Friday... we really appreciate all the help