Miracle Baby Fleur Returns to Thank Leicester Surgeon After Historic Heart Surgery
Nearly three years after becoming what is believed to be the youngest baby in the United Kingdom to survive open-heart surgery, Fleur has made an emotional return to Leicester Royal Infirmary with her family. The special visit was to personally thank the surgeon whose skill and determination saved her life during a critical medical emergency.
A Premature Birth and Unexpected Complications
Fleur entered the world six weeks early alongside her twin sister, Ottilie, born in Nottingham. After spending several weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Queen's Medical Centre, both babies were cleared to go home with their parents, Joe and Finley. However, just two weeks later, Fleur began experiencing significant difficulties with feeding and breathing, prompting an urgent return to hospital.
Following five days in paediatric intensive care, a CT scan revealed a rare and serious congenital heart condition. Fleur was diagnosed with Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage (TAPVD), where all four pulmonary veins drain into the right atrium instead of the left, forcing blood to recirculate to the lungs.
"Our world came crashing down when we were told Fleur was too small for the surgery she needed," recalled mother Finley, describing the devastating moment they received the diagnosis.
Historic Surgical Intervention Against All Odds
At just twenty-eight days old—twelve days before her original due date—and weighing only 1.8 kilograms, Fleur was transferred to Leicester Royal Infirmary via the Children's Medical Emergency Transport team. Consultant Congenital Heart Surgeon Ikenna Omeje led the medical team that took on her complex case, despite being given less than a twenty percent chance of survival.
"I see hundreds of patients, but you really remember the special ones and Fleur was certainly special," Mr Omeje stated. "She made history in Leicester as the smallest child to have open-heart surgery at 1.8kg, but I believe she's also the youngest in the UK because she was premature. We had to adapt the oxygenator because of her size."
The groundbreaking nine-hour surgery required Fleur to be placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine (ECMO), a temporary life-support system that pumps blood out of the body, reoxygenates it, and returns it. Her chest remained open for a week following the procedure, with the family finally returning home six weeks later.
Emotional Reunion and Ongoing Medical Battles
As Fleur and Ottilie approach their third birthday, the family recently returned to Leicester Royal Infirmary to express their profound gratitude to Mr Omeje. "You gave Fleur a life, and Ottilie has a sister because of you. We can never thank you enough," Finley told the surgeon during their heartfelt meeting.
However, the family's challenges continued shortly after their initial return home. Just two weeks later, Ottilie developed a severe respiratory virus requiring three nights of hospital care. Shortly after that, Fleur developed a cough that led to respiratory arrest, necessitating another emergency ECMO transfer to Leicester.
"It felt like we were back home, and Fleur settled in on the Cardiac Paediatric Intensive Care Unit very quickly," Finley explained. "For the next ten days, we watched her numbers slowly improve. We were finally transferred back to Queen's Medical Centre and, two weeks after that, we finally returned home with two healthy girls."
Charity Support and Lasting Gratitude
By the twins' first Christmas, Fleur had spent fifty days in hospital. The family expressed deep appreciation for both the medical teams and the Heart Link charity, which provided crucial support including accommodation during Fleur's hospital stays.
"The dedication of the teams who cared for the twins, and Heart Link charity, which provided support for us while Fleur was in hospital, including a place to stay, were brilliant," Finley added. "We didn't have to worry about travelling or leaving either of the twins."
Graeme Williams, speaking on behalf of Heart Link, commented: "Seeing Fleur thrive brings immense joy to all of us at Heart Link. Knowing that she has faced ECMO not just once, but twice, makes Fleur's progress deeply meaningful and touches all our hearts. For everyone at Heart Link, Fleur's recovery is far more than a single success story—it's a powerful reminder of why the work we do matters so much."
The family now holds a special place in their hearts for Leicester Royal Infirmary, affectionately calling it their "Leicester home," and remains eternally grateful for the medical breakthroughs that allowed both their daughters to survive and thrive against tremendous odds.
