Children’s Heartbeat Trust help over 500 families each year. The Magill family is just one of the many families we provide emotional, practical and financial support to. Jozie turned back in August this year and will be at home to celebrate Christmas. Jozie’s Mum Nicole has shared Jozie’s story and their journey so far.
The past year has been a rollercoaster as we welcomed our third child Jozie into the world.
As mum of two healthy children, I never expected to hear the words “your child has a complex heart condition and will need lifesaving surgery.”
Our world turned upside down after receiving his diagnosis antenatally. We were terrified of what the future might hold but received great comfort, support and reassurance from the antenatal team and Children’s Heartbeat Trust. We knew we weren’t going to be alone on this new journey we found ourselves on.
When Jozie was born in August last year, he was immediately taken to ICU. He was stabilized and remained in hospital for 4 weeks before being rushed to Dublin for lifesaving surgery. His recovery went well, and we returned to Clark Clinic in Belfast. After three long months in hospital, we finally got Jozie home to meet his big brother and sister. It was amazing to have them all together at last.
Over the past year, Jozie has been back and forth from hospital with various issues but in September of this year we faced our hardest challenge yet. Jozie had to return to Dublin to have major open-heart surgery.
It was the longest day of our lives. Nothing can prepare you for handing your baby over for major surgery. Jozie was in theatre for 13 hours and this time his recovery wasn’t so smooth. There were some complications, and we spent a month in Dublin before getting transferred back to Clark Clinic in Belfast. Jozie is now home and doing brilliantly.
This whole journey been incredibly difficult, but Children’s Heartbeat Trust have been there for us from day one. They have been amazing, and we honestly would have been lost without them. They really do go above and beyond.
“We received amazing emotional support while travelling for surgery and staying in hospital for long periods of time. Seeing a friendly face and have someone aside from the medical team who understood what we were going through was very comforting.”
Children’s Heartbeat Trust also provided us with financial support which really helped. Jozie’s daddy is self-employed and was unable to work for long periods at a time so it gave us great peace of mind knowing we had some financial relief. It eased one worry so we could focus more energy on Jozie.
While Jozie was an inpatient in Clark Clinic, we were able to enjoy Music Therapy sessions funded by Children’s Heartbeat Trust which he absolutely loved. It helped us relax and bond together in hospital and was something to look forward to. It really lifted our spirits to see his little face light up.
When Jozie was four weeks old and rushed to Dublin for the first time, Children’s Heartbeat Trust visited us in hospital and provided us with a Jake’s Lady bird Bag which included last minute essentials to keep us going. When you are in a panic, it’s the little things you just don’t think about.
“We know that Jozie’s heart journey is far from over and that he will need surgery in the future. But we know that Children’s Heartbeat Trust will be there for us every step of the way.”
This Christmas, you can help us support more children like Jozie by donating More Than A Gift.
