Harrison's Story

Two-year-old Harrison, from Droitwich, became a patient at our hospital when he was just two days old. It came as a shock to his parents, Katie and Kieran, who had no suspicions until a routine midwife check-up resulted in a trip to their local hospital.  

Throughout Katie’s pregnancy, everything had been fine, with no issues showing up on scans. Once born, Harrison wasn’t feeding well, something that was also true for the couple’s daughter, Hollie, when she was a baby. Nothing seemed too serious until their midwife spotted Harrison’s mottled skin and suggested a trip to their local hospital to get it checked out. They were completely unprepared for what was to come.  

Harrison was seen almost immediately and, at two days old, was diagnosed with an interrupted aortic arch - where the aorta in the heart is incomplete - and ventricular septal defect, a hole in the heart. A cardiologist explained Harrison would require surgery and that a team from the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit was on the way to transfer him to the Children's Hospital. Katie recalls: “It was like an out of body experience hearing those words. At one point, Harrison was moved to resus where he was surrounded by 16 people. It hit us then that this was serious. It was terrifying.” 

Harrison was incubated at the hospital before being taken by ambulance to Birmingham. Sadly, due to COVID restrictions at the time, Katie and Kieran could only follow in their car. “I begged and pleaded with them to let me in with him, but I wasn’t able to,” Katie said. “I remember asking ‘will he make the journey and be okay?’. We were so caught off guard, we went into hospital thinking Harrison would be checked over and we could go home the same night, instead we were travelling to a hospital we’d never been to before, unsure what the situation would be on the other side.” 

When they eventually arrived, Katie and Kieran struggled to find their bearings, unsure where to park or even where the main entrance was. Once they found their way into the hospital, their first impressions weren’t the best.  

“It was around 8pm when we arrived. I remember the main entrance being dark and dingy; it felt very unwelcoming. There wasn’t anyone sitting at the main reception desk either, so we had to try and find our way up to the ward on our own. We spotted the board at the end of the corridor and managed to make it to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the first floor. When we saw Harrison, we were so relieved.” 

Six days later, Harrison received a seven-hour operation to fix his heart. He stayed in hospital for a month in total while he recovered. During this time, the family found out Harrison also had bicuspid aortic valve – meaning the valve flaps in his heart were fusing together – as well as the genetic condition, DiGeorge syndrome. His new diagnoses mean Harrison will be monitored throughout his childhood at our hospital. While the family balance visits and appointments, their daughter, Hollie, regularly comes along to the hospital, too.  

“Hollie gets scared by the hospital, particularly the doctors. During Harrison’s initial stay, due to the restrictions in place, Hollie wasn’t allowed onto the ward. Finding a place for us all to spend some time together was hard; there’s wasn’t a dedicated space to just sit down and be a family that wasn’t a café or restaurant. Our handovers at the main entrance were always rushed, as we felt in the way.”  

Our new It Starts Here Appeal will change this. The current entrance way will be transformed into an open, welcoming, child-friendly and exciting place, where families can go to decompress or spend some time with their children before or after appointments. It will help make the hospital a fun, enriching and joyful place to be, instead of a scary or clinical one.   

“As regular visitors of the hospital, we understand how important the front of the hospital is. The new plans for the main entrance will make a real difference to put both children and parents at ease, as well as siblings and visitors, ensuring their visits are filled with fun and excitement instead of fear. It will truly encapsulate the magic that happens once you’re through its main doors.”