Lancaster heart op mum's miracle babies

Georgina and Luke Ingall and their four-month-old daughter Evelette. They are hoping to have their 17-month-old son Bobby home in September after he was born prematurely weighing just over 2lbs.

Georgina Ingall, 21, of Franklin Street, Lancaster, defied medical odds to have Bobby in February 2015 and Evelette four months ago with her husband Luke.

Bobby has been on a ventilator since he was born but now doctors at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital say he can come home next month with a portable ventilator, meaning the family can be reunited at home for the first time.

Georgina said: “We are waiting for a care package so we can bring him home.

Bobby, 17-months-old, is still in Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and has never been home. His parents Georgina and Luke from Lancaster are hoping to have him home by September.

“His lungs have to be strong enough. When he can go on a portable ventilator he will be fit for discharge from hospital.

“We have stayed there in the ICU and the NICU and have had to travel to Manchester a lot.It was hard at first but it is life for us and we don’t know any different.”

Georgina is all too familiar with hospitals after undergoing a heart transplant at the age of 15. She wasn’t expected to survive until adulthood.She said: “I had a virus when I was six months old and it travelled down and attacked my heart.

“I did really well to get to 15 before I needed a transplant, It is uncommon for child with this condition to live past the age of two without needing a transplant. It was just a medical wonder really. I was just over four weeks recovering and came back to Heysham.

“I got nine GSCEs and had to do one from my hospital bed.

“After that I went to L & M College to do beauty therapy but I decided it was not what I wanted to do.

“I volunteered in a cake shop but I couldn’t do what I thought I could I’ve never been so tired and drained all the time. I always wanted kids and I was told by the consultants that I would never have children but it is possible to have children after having a heart transplant.”

Georgina got pregnant with Bobby but said the pregnancy was ‘awful.’ She said: “I was in and out of hospital for blood transfusions. My waters went at 22 weeks and he was born at 27 weeks, weighing 2lbs 3oz. I was told when he came out he would be quiet but he let out a massive scream.

“He was ventilated to help him breathe because his lungs weren’t developed enough.

“He has a tracheostomy (a tube in his throat to help him breathe) and he is still on a ventilator.”

Luke and Georgina have been together nearly three years and got married last November at Manchester Register Office.

Luke is Georgina’s carer and a stay-at-home dad.

He said: “It has made us stronger as a couple, we are a team and having a child makes or breaks you but we need to be strong.”

Georgina, who has a twin sister Samantha and sisters Khadijah, Nik and Zoe, said: “I love being a mum because it’s what I’ve always wanted. I love being a mum to Bobby with complex needs.

“The littlest things we take for granted. It will be nice when he comes home because I want to be left to feel like I can be a mum.

“The staff at the hospital are brilliant they are like our family, we can’t really thank them enough for what they have done.

“We just want to give something back. That’s why we have organised a family fun day to raise funds for a new helipad which could save lives and four hospitals could benefit.”

The event is being held on Friday, August 26 at The Cumberland View in Morecambe starting from 1pm.

There will be a raffle, cake stalls, face painting, games and a buffet.

To donate to the £3.9m helipad appeal visit https://secure.rmchcharity.org.uk/donation-form-general.