Artificial heart baby beats the odds

A 13-MONTH-OLD boy left hospital yesterday just five months after his mother agreed with doctors that he was too ill to survive a heart condition and that his life support machine should be switched off.

Jack Vellam’s survival story broke records after he became the youngest patient to stay on an artificial heart for 120 days while he recovered from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.

Jack’s mother Danielle Hastings, 18, from Northamptonshire in England, said he suddenly fell ill in March.

Medics thought he had a virus and suggested he take Calpol, but his condition worsened and the family rushed him into hospital in Northampton where he had a heart attack.

He was transferred to Leicester where he went into intensive care for several days. As his life slipped away, doctors suggested the family consider switching off the life support machine as he was so seriously ill.

Ms Hastings and Jack’s father Terry, a 21-year-old apprentice plumber, considered the suggestion, and at first she agreed as she did not want her eight-month-old baby to suffer.

She said: “It was a heart-breaking ordeal for all of us. I said I didn’t want him to suffer any more than he already had.

“They wanted to have our decision by 8pm but then the doctors came back and said there was another option — for a transplant.”

The parents were warned it was not without drawbacks, and Jack could suffer from strokes or blood clots.

Ms Hastings said: “When they suggested a heart transplant, I began to think he has a chance here. I have to let my little boy have a chance.

“It was my and Terry’s decision and he wanted to have the transplant, but I was still not sure because there were more cons than pros.

“In the end I said ‘let’s give him that chance’.”

The family had gathered for what they believed would be Jack’s last day and he was christened in hospital.

Ms Hastings said she could not stop crying.

“I’m glad we made that decision, because look at him now.”

A team from the Freeman saw Jack and he was placed on an ECMO machine to keep his heart and lungs working.

He was transferred to Newcastle and it was discovered that he was suffering a heart muscle inflammation.

As about one in three children recover from it on their own, doctors decided to wait and see if Jack could pull through without the need for a transplant.

He was put on a “Berlin Heart”, which meant four tubes with 60 stitches each going into his chest, and an artificial heart operating outside his body pumping his blood.

The device stayed on for 120 days before it was removed in a dangerous, operation 15 days ago.

Dr Richard Kirk, consultant paediatric cardiologist, paid tribute to the 100-strong team who worked to save Jack’s life.

He said: “He would have died without the Berlin Heart.”