Bulli boy Koa Tarrant was just eight days old when he was diagnosed with congenital heart disease – with open-heart surgery the only cure.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the single biggest cause of death in children under the age of one in Australia – eight babies are born with a heart defect every day, and four precious lives are lost each week.
February 14 was HeartKids’ Sweetheart Day, and it kickstarted a national awareness campaign where all Australians can show their support for the tens of thousands affected by CHD.
For Bulli parents Heidi and Patrick Tarrant, HeartKids helped steer them through the “rollercoaster ride” Koa’s diagnosis took them on.
“Koa was eight days old when we were sent to the emergency room up in Sydney by our GP as Koa was working too hard with his breathing,” Ms Tarrant said.
“After long hours of being monitored Koa got diagnosed with VSD (ventricular septal defect) and we got the shocking news that the open heart surgery would be most likely the only way to try to fix his little heart.
“Koa’s open heart surgery was done when he was nine months old. The surgery was successful and we have been very lucky as ever since Koa has been well from a cardiac point of view.”
Ms Tarrant said finding the national charity gave her and her husband “great comfort and hope” and the realisation they were not alone.
“HeartKids has been magical to us,” she said. “Looking after a child with a medical condition is overwhelming and isolating sometimes. It was also shocking to realise that there are so many of us.
“Our family’s thoughts, prayers and donations go to the families who are still in the middle of their own rollercoaster ride with raising children with congenital heart disease. We are also forever grateful for Koa’s amazing medical team who are probably out there right now saving another family.”
Mr Tarrant said HeartKids was solely supported by donations which helped them provide direct support to families like his.
Through public donations, HeartKids is hoping to raise $704,000 to expand its support services. Donate at www.sweetheartday.org.au.