Breast cancer survivor born with half heart

During her second pregnancy, mother and breast cancer survivor Larissa Brown was told her baby had a “life-threatening condition” and was encouraged by doctors to quit.

Townsville, Queensland, 39, considers herself lucky to be able to have children after she turned 20 and was treated for both cancer and endometriosis.

Regardless, Larissa and her husband, Nathan Brown, welcomed Emilia in 2017 and Georgia in 2021.

But little Georgia was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare and complex defect that affects regular blood flow, which is a roller coaster for the whole family.

“I gave birth, kissed her, and then they took her away before I even had a chance to hug her,” Larissa told FEMAIL.

Her mother, 39-year-old Nathan, from Townsville, Queensland, and her husband, Nathan, considered themselves lucky to have children as Larissa was a 27-year-old breast cancer survivor and also suffers from endometriosis.

Unfortunately, little Georgia was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare and complex defect that affects regular blood flow, which is a roller coaster challenge for the entire family.

At the 20-week pregnancy screening, the couple was told devastating news and Georgia was officially diagnosed with the terminal condition.

“It was a real pain,” Larissa added, “I took a week off work and cried.

“They’ve put us through three heart surgeries that need to survive, and we’ve had so many breakdown calls – I would never want my worst enemy,” he said.

At the time, doctors said Georgia was most likely to have learning disabilities, mental retardation, shorter life expectancy, and an overall low quality of life.

“We didn’t have a chance in our hearts to end the pregnancy and we felt like the worst people in the world because we chose to move on, but we couldn’t give up,” she said.

Unfortunately, its rare and deadly condition has no known cause.

Before their 20-week pregnancy screening, the couple received the devastating news and Georgia was officially diagnosed with the terminal condition.

Larissa was previously a breast cancer survivor at the age of 27 and also suffered from endometriosis.

The treatment used to combat both diseases meant she would likely have trouble conceiving or never have a baby.

Larissa and Nathan did not lose hope and moved to Sydney to discuss possible IVF treatments.

Surprisingly, Larissa became pregnant naturally and gave birth to their first daughter, Emilia, who is now three years old.

A few years later the couple began considering having another baby to expand the family again through IVF, but Larissa was considered “high risk” because of her endometriosis problems and the specialist refused.

“My gynecologist, who has treated my endoma for 15 years, suggested a ‘gentle clean’ surgery and said, ‘This is your best chance to have another baby,'” Larissa said.

“It was a huge surgery and recovery but frankly I got pregnant again – I couldn’t believe it, we were so happy.”

After 36 weeks of pregnancy, the couple decided to give Georgia the best chance at survival and moved from Townsville to Brisbane to be near Queensland Children’s Hospital.

After 36 weeks of pregnancy, the couple decided to give Georgia the best chance at survival and moved from Townsville to Brisbane to be near Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Within 38 weeks, the doctors decided to put Larissa into a cesarean section, where a large medical team was waiting.

Doctors had to act fast after the birth, and they had a short 30 minutes to an hour to give Georgia a specific medicine – unfortunately, mother and baby didn’t have time to interact with each other for the first few minutes. .

The precious Georgia, who is only six days old, had an open heart surgery that took 10 hours due to complications.

It was a long way after surgery, and during recovery, the newborn suffered a lung collapse.

“He looked very bloated and in bad shape, but then he started to recover nicely and then he needed more oxygen from the air,” Larissa said.

“The doctors had no idea about his problem, they did all the tests and gave him the drugs, but it got worse and worse.”

The precious Georgia, who is only six days old, had an open heart surgery that took 10 hours due to complications.

After the CT scan, the cardiologist called Larissa and brought some news. The doctor found that Georgia wandered too much and her oxygen levels were dangerously low, meaning she was fit for her next heart surgery.

After the CT scan, the cardiologist called Larissa and brought some news.

“She told me: ‘I finally understood Georgia’s heart,’ she recalls.

The doctor found that Georgia was roaming around too much and her oxygen levels were dangerously low, meaning she was eligible for her next heart surgery.

“It was very comforting,” Larissa said.

He was prepared for surgery for a few days in Georgia, but unfortunately the doctors found an infection that needed to be cured first.

The antibiotics helped kill the infection and the baby was ready again for the five-hour surgery.

Fortunately, the procedure was “easy” and the doctors admitted to Larissa that they were also worried about her.

After spending 169 days in the hospital, the family was finally able to bring Georgia home for the first time.

After spending 169 days in the hospital, the family was finally able to bring Georgia home for the first time.

“I was both scared and excited because if we were worried about something at the hospital we would ring the bell and a nurse would come. Now it’s my turn,” Larissa said.

Beautiful little Georgia is thriving at home despite being twice infected with rhinovirus and having Covid.

“We are 110% grateful and lucky to be able to take him home. He catches up with his progress, but he gets there,” Larissa said.

Larissa, now 11 months old, has described Georgia as “the sweetest little girl” who always smiles, greets people and understands when she’s done something wrong.

“She’s a great little girl and always attracts everyone to her,” she said.