Helping a local family in need.

Courtney and Michael's lives were turned upside down when they were told their little boy had a heart condition. Little did they know just how complex their precious little boy would be.

Jaxon was born on the 13th of October at 9:31am at St Michael's Hospital, Bristol with congenital heart disease and bilateral talipes. Courtney and Michael knew the plan from having multiple scans with fetal cardiac specialists up at St Michael's Hospital, that their little boy would have to undergo surgery within the first 7-10 days of life and then a further 3 surgeries as he grew up. Little did they know that as soon as Jaxon was born their whole world would change even more and be turned completely upside down within the coming days.

The day Jaxon was born the doctors had to take him straight to Neonatal Intensive Care which they knew would be the case. The neonatal doctors were happy with how Jaxon was but knew he needed special medication and attention while he awaited surgery. It was then the neonatal doctors picked up more issues with Jaxon. After ultrasound scans and CT scans it was confirmed that Jaxon was much more of a complex baby than anyone originally thought.

Jaxon was born with a congenital heart disease, which they call Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a heart disease where the left ventricle of the heart, which is the main pumping chamber, is critically underdeveloped (too smal). Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome is a fairly rare problem that occurs in approximately 1 in 5,000 babies and accounts for 1% of all congenital heart disorders.

He also has other complications which I will list below:

Atrial septum defect, large muscular Ventricular septal defect, coarctation of the aorta, bilateral talipes, double outlet right ventricle. These conditions were picked up during pregnancy. The neonatal doctors found these conditions after multiple scans and xrays after he was born: hip dysplasia, Wedge shaped vertebrae, partial scoliosis, uneven rib structure (only 10 ribs on the right side and 9 ribs on the left side), a dysplastic kidney, an abdominal hernia and an underformed arm growing out of his abdomen due to Fetus in fetu syndrome.

Courtney and Michael went from having a plan, to being told that medical professionals don't know what form of life he may have, how long he will live for or how any of his conditions will affect his surgeries and treatment.

Courtney and Michael are currently in Bristol. Away from their other 2 children so that they can be with Jaxon while he had his surgery. Michael comes down on weekends, although at the minute this is hard due to Jaxon going into cardiac arrest and is currently set up on a heart and lung bypass machine while the doctors and cardiac specialists decide if there is anymore they can do for Jaxon. Michael is spending a fortune on travelling to and from Bristol so that he can be with his other 2 children as well as their new son and still needing to work a day when he can, so that they can survive whilst he is home for the weekend as well as himself and Courtney while they are in Bristol. Michael is meant to be opening his own taxi business which works better for him around family commitments due to Jax being in Bristol after going into Cardiac arrest twice over the weekend. They both want to be home for their other sons birthday who will be 4 on the 5th of November but they aren't sure what will be going on with Jaxon at this precise moment in time.

Funds are tight for them right now. They miss their children but cannot afford to be travelling to and from every weekend due to Michael having to take time off work when he's self employed. The children aren't allowed up to stay with them due to COVID restrictions in place as well. They already grieve for their baby boy who may not pull through after having a cardiac arrest twice since Friday and currently he has been put back onto a heart and lung bypass machine while doctors and the cardiac specialists see if/what they can do for this little baby

Please help raise funds to support this family as much as we can. Even if it's just to get their other two children up in a hotel with them for a weekend so that they can both spend time with them ❤