Vinny's Heart

 Vinny Duggan was born at a healthy weight full term on August 20th 2010. At 5 days old Vinny was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus which is a major defect of the arteries leading to the heart and which requires open heart surgery to fix, he was also disgnosed with Supaventricular Tachycardia, the two together are extremely rare. On arrival, Vinny was suffering from the SVT which causes a fast heart beat and had to be given drugs to stop and restart the rhythm in his heart. Vinny deteriorated over the next couple of weeks and on the 21st September 2010 at four weeks old he underwent surgery to fix his Truncus Arteriosus and an ASD which is a hole in the heart. Whilst in surgery doctors also found that Vinny had Patent Ductus Arteriosus and had to repair this as well. On leaving surgery Vinny suffered a major episode of Pulmonary Hypertension which is lung failure and was critically ill. He was transferred to intensive care where he spent a turbulent and eventful 5 weeks, whilst there Vinny had major episodes of a punctured lung and suffered a cardiac arrest. Doctors then discovered Vinny had a rare form of pulmonary intestinal emphysema normally seen in premature babies. Having these rare conditions together has made Vinny the only child in the UK with this collection of conditions. Vinny's life was at risk for many weeks, and against the odds and through sheer determination he fought hard and left intensive care. After leaving intensive care it was decided Vinny would have to have the upper part of his left lung taken away to reduce the risk of further episodes of a punctured lung and also to improve his health. A few weeks later Vinny had his lung operation. Against all predictions Vinny came through his surgery perfectly and after a couple of weeks rest in hospital he was finally allowed home after 5 months to join his brother and sister for Christmas!! Just after Christmas Vinny returned to hospital for 10 days to have a gastrostomy fitted as he had not fed orally since being 3 days old.

Vinny will require further open heart surgery in the future but continues to amaze people every day. Vinny's parents Andrea and Andy immediately started fundraising for the CHSF and this year have raised an amazing £6,000 in Vinny's name.