The baby whose heart is STAPLED to her rib cage: 15-month-old has cutting edge op to stop it moving in her chest after she was born missing a lung

  • Scans revealed Gabriella Stearne would be born with health problems 
  • She has heart conditions  Scimitar Syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallot 
  • Great Ormond Street operated after seizures  stopped her from breathing
  • Now faces surgery every six months as she grows but is finally home

By Kate Pickles For Mailonline

Published: 05:21 EST, 6 September 2016 | Updated: 06:05 EST, 6 September 2016

A toddler has had her heart stapled to her ribs in cutting edge surgery to stop the organ moving in her chest.

Gabriella Stearne was born without a left lung - which can cause her heart to move out of place - and also has two rare heart conditions.

Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) doctors carried out the pioneering surgery by securing her heart to her rib cage.

She has also been fitted her with a prosthetic lung to aid her breathing.

The 15-month-old now faces operations every six months as she grows to keep on top of her complex medical needs.

Gabriella Stearne was born without a left lung and also has two heart conditions which have made the first 15 months of her life a battle for survival

Gabriella Stearne was born without a left lung and also has two heart conditions which have made the first 15 months of her life a battle for survival

The tiny baby ventilated by a tracheotomy after also being diagnosed with bronchomalacia

The tiny baby ventilated by a tracheotomy after also being diagnosed with bronchomalacia

Parents Amie Jarvis, 27, and partner Tom Stearne, 29, discovered she would be born with birth defects five months into the pregnancy after a scan showed abnormalities. 

She was diagnosed with the congenital disorder scimitar syndrome and the structural abnormality, Tetralogy of Fallot, placing huge strain on her heart. 

Gabriella also had to be constantly ventilated via a tube inserted into her windpipe, after also being diagnosed with bronchomalacia. 

This is caused by weak cartilage in the walls of the bronchial tubes which meant they need to be supported to stay open.

Doctors originally hoped Gabriella could be supported from her home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

But by September last year when she was four month's old, her health deteriorated when she began having seizures which caused her to stop breathing.

She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, before being transferred to the London hospital for the cutting-edge treatment.

'A specialist team from Great Ormond Street came and put her in an induced coma and took her back to the London hospital,' said Ms Jarvis.

Mother Amy Jarvis has a cuddle with Gabriella who was born with a number of health problems

Mother Amy Jarvis has a cuddle with Gabriella who was born with a number of health problems

Gabriella has had several surgeries in her short life after being born with a number of rare conditions and missing her left lung

Gabriella has had several surgeries in her short life after being born with a number of rare conditions and missing her left lung

Gabriella in hospital
She needs tubes to help her breathe

She was put on a ventilator and had to be constantly ventilated via a tube inserted into her windpipe, after also being diagnosed with bronchomalacia

'She was in Cardiac Intensive Care Unit where she has had numerous operations.

'She had her heart repaired and stapled to her chest bones so it doesn't move about.

'She has also had a prosthetic lung inserted. This is to support her as she grows and to stop her other organs moving around.'

Since being in the hospital since last September, Gabriella's health has slowly improved.

On Monday she returned to her family home she shares with her two older sisters, Alexis, eight and Imogen, three. 

The couple said they were amazed by her progress.

'Even five years ago they wouldn't have been able to do what they have done for her', said Ms Jarvis.

Gabriella beams at father Tom Stearne after one of her operations at Great Ormond Street

Gabriella beams at father Tom Stearne after one of her operations at Great Ormond Street

'It's because all the things she has are rare by themselves but together they're unheard of.

'I don't want to say she has been a bit of a guinea pig but she has because of all the different things that she has had done.

'It's amazing what the doctors and nurses have done and we're forever indebted to them.'  

Mr Stearne, a lorry driver, said: 'It is lovely. After a year in Great Ormond Street it is brilliant to be finally going home.' 

Now the family is desperately trying to raise £5,000 to buy a people carrier needed to transport Gabriella and all of her medical equipment. 

To read more visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Gabriellasfund 

 

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