A toddler from Bonhill who underwent open-heart surgery at just four weeks old has been named a Young Heart Hero for his strength and bravery.
Two-year-old Teddy McPhee was born with aortic stenosis in August 2022, a condition where the aortic valve narrows and blood cannot flow normally to the heart.
During surgery to correct this one of Teddy’s arteries was torn.
Experts from around the world were consulted before surgeons at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opted to go ahead with the Ross Procedure – open-heart surgery in which the aortic valve is replaced with a donor valve.
It is believed Teddy became one of the youngest babies in the country to have the operation.
Thankfully it was was a success and Teddy is now a happy toddler enjoying an action-packed life with big brothers Robson, aged eight, and Bradley, 11,
Last week he was recognised in The British Heart Foundation (BHF) Young Heart Hero Awards.
Alongside his parents Gillian and Robert and his brothers, Teddy was the youngest of 20 children from across Britain who travelled to the awards ceremony at Chessington Zoo to celebrate extraordinary stories of endurance and hope.
Explaining his condition, Gillian said: “He was healthy and happy but a nurse at his routine check-up heard a ‘whoosh’ sound, like a murmur, from his heart so he was referred for an echocardiogram a few days later and then for surgery three weeks after that.”
But during surgery to correct this, one of Teddy’s arteries was torn. “When you look at him now, you’d never imagine what he’s been through,” says mum Gillian.
“We thought we might lose him and at one point I was making myself prepare for the worst. It was an absolute gut wrench for us. You think babies with heart problems are unhealthy babies, but Teddy was born a heathy weight and was meeting every milestone. It was surreal.”
Teddy will be monitored for life but he is now like any other boisterous toddler.
“Teddy loved the attention and although he doesn’t have many words yet, at one point he turned around in his highchair and pointed to his chest and said ‘heart’,” says Gillian.
“To see him now you think how did that happen, he’s so amazing, full of beans, mischief and laughter.”
Gillian, who runs GillzLittleGemz nursery in Alexandria is now a regular fundraiser for the BHF and has raised hundreds of pounds this year through a variety of events. She and eldest son Bradley even completed the 27-mile Kiltwalk earlier this year, where Teddy was waiting for them at the finish line.
She adds: “We were so oblivious to all the heart conditions out there and we thought a heart problem was a heart attack, so it has been important for us to raise awareness.”
David McColgan, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “It was such a privilege to meet little Teddy and his family at the Young Heart Hero Awards. He is a joyful bundle of mischief, and it was great to see him enjoying his moment in the spotlight, which he rightly deserves.
“We are also hugely thankful to his family for fundraising for BHF and raising awareness about heart conditions in the young.
“I am in awe of what all our extraordinary young heroes have been through, and seeing their resilience and continued passion to support the British Heart Foundation is just amazing.”
This festive season, the British Heart Foundation is urging people to donate to the charity to help fund its lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases.
To donate to the British Heart Foundation this festive season and give a gift that keeps on living visit this link.