This Little Was Girl Given A New Heart For Christmas

While most kids were excited about toys for Christmas, Sophie Maxwell got a chance to live. She's been given a chance to live by a donor - 11 days after doctors suggested ending her care.

#1 Sophie Maxwell

Last Christmas Day, Sophie Maxwell was put on the donor list for a heart. One year later, she finally got her Christmas present.

#2 Ending Care

11 Days before this Christmas, doctors suggested ending her care, not knowing how close they were to getting a new heart.

#3 Parents

30 Year old Kerryanne and 40 year old Ian were devastated when doctors told them that their baby daughter had contracted a deadly blood poisoning and that care should be terminated. They refused and 11 days later a match was found.

#4 Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Little Sophie Maxwell had a birth defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which affects the blood flow to and from the heart. The baby had several operations, but her heart continued to get worse.

#5 Organs Shutting Down

With her organs shutting down and sepsis taking over, Kerryanne was terrified that she was going to lose her baby. ‘I was terrified when she was diagnosed with sepsis and on November 11, doctors even gave us the option to end all care by stopping her heart medication but that wasn’t even an option for us. I have fought for her for three years and I couldn’t not give her a chance at a normal life.’

#6 Christmas Miracle

‘Before the operation she was blue because her heart wasn’t working properly but as soon as I saw her after surgery, she was instantly a healthy pink color. It’s such a relief that an organ match was found… It was all we wanted for Christmas.’

#7 Different Child

Sophie is like a different little girl now. While she will be monitored for the rest of her life, she has been give the gift of life. ‘There is no simple fix for congenital heart defects… But thanks to her selfless donor, she has the chance of having a future.’

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