Holding on to hope

 

‘Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!’
Since becoming a heart mummy, I have read so many inspirational stories of children who were not expected to survive. Some of these are heart warriors, others may have different conditions. All of their stories touch my heart. My daughter was not expected to survive to birth, let alone to become the beautiful active toddler that she is today. All these stories make me realise that God is working miracles all the time; that even a faint glimmer of hope is worth holding on to.

National Breastfeeding Week - my story

It’s National Breastfeeding Week.  When my daughter was born, I didn’t know if I would be able to breastfeed her due to her heart condition.  In the end, she had mummy milk for 17 months.  It wasn’t easy – there were 12 weeks when she had a chylothorax and couldn’t have breastmilk (during which time I expressed and donated to the local milk bank).  She needed top-ups of Infatrini throughout but she did breastfeed and I am so glad I persevered.  It felt like such a big achievement and I hope it gives encouragement to other heart mummies wanting to breastfeed.