Scarlett’s Heart

Hey everyone, 

I have hesitated to create this gofundme to help myself and Josh support our beautiful little girl, but a lot of you have reached out and asked to help us and we are so grateful for you. 

On the 15th of April we handed over our beautiful little girl for open heart surgery. Unfortunately the surgery failed and subsequently she went into cardiac arrest and was placed on ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). This is where a machine does the work of the heart by oxygenating the blood and is known to have serious side-effects. 

We went back in for surgery for a catheterisation procedure a few days later, followed by the decision to risk her life with another open heart surgery.

Scarlett underwent a second open heart surgery on the 23rd of April which is so far successful. 

Unfortunately with how sick she was on ECMO, we have had multiple battles with her health. We have had kidney, liver, brain, spleen and other organs taking hits and slowly repairing. She has had platelet dysfunction causing her to bleed into her skin, countless lung infections, seizures and so many more battles that it is overwhelming. She has had IV lines burn into her skin that are being addressed by the burns team. The brain damage is  going to be an unknown factor as to how it will effect her growing up. 

Recovery was slow and steady until a few days ago, when we had to advocate for our daughters deteriorating condition. Something was just not right. 

On the 22nd of May, she crashed very fast and was diagnosed as having sepsis. Miss Scarlett was returned to ICU after only a few days on the ward to yet again fight for her life. 

She again is relying on a lot of support to help her organs, particularly her kidneys which were struggling to function. 

The Sepsis has also been putting pressure on her heart and lungs to function. 

Josh and I have been by our gorgeous little girls side in Brisbane since the 15th of April and have been living off the savings we battled to get together to cover her surgery. Unfortunately with how long we have been unable to work (as well as will continue to be unable to work), we really could do with some helping hands to keep us by her side. 

If you can financially help us to continue to be there advocating for our little princess, we would be eternally grateful and deeply humbled by your help. Scarlett is now terrified of the nurses and doctors that have been working hard to save her life, so going home to work is not an option for us. 

I’m sure Miss Scarlett would appreciate it too, as Mum and Dad give her lollipop sponges to chew on and they’re her favourite!