When Kayleigh walked into her routine 20-week scan, she expected reassurance, perhaps a glimpse of her growing baby, and the quiet joy that comes with hearing a steady heartbeat. She never imagined that within minutes, her world would tilt on its axis. The words spoken that day would echo in her heart forever: her unborn son, Rhys, had a rare and life-threatening congenital heart condition. What was meant to be a simple appointment became the beginning of a journey filled with fear, resilience, medical miracles, and a mother’s relentless determination to fight for her child’s life.
The diagnosis was overwhelming. Rhys was found to have Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a serious condition where the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed, meaning oxygen-rich blood cannot circulate properly through the body. Alongside this, he had a large Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), a hole between the heart’s chambers that further complicated his fragile circulation. For Kayleigh and her partner, the medical terms were unfamiliar, but the gravity was unmistakable. Their baby’s heart was not built to sustain life without immediate and ongoing medical intervention.
Kayleigh remembers that moment with painful clarity. The room felt heavy. Time seemed to slow as she tried to process what the sonographer was explaining. Fear, confusion, and disbelief collided. Yet even in that instant, one truth rose above everything else: this was her son, and she would fight for him with everything she had.
Doctors discussed options, including the possibility of termination. For Kayleigh and her partner, that was never an option. Their decision was immediate and unwavering. “How could we give up on our little boy?” Kayleigh recalls. “He deserved every chance to live.” From that moment on, their path was clear. No matter how long, how frightening, or how uncertain the road ahead would be, they would walk it—together—with Rhys.
Thanks to the early diagnosis, Kayleigh’s pregnancy became a carefully planned medical journey. Regular scans, specialist appointments, and detailed birth planning became part of their routine. Each visit was both a source of anxiety and reassurance. They were living in a delicate balance: fear of what could go wrong, and gratitude that Rhys was being watched so closely. Every scan was a reminder that early detection was already giving their son a fighting chance.
As the due date approached, anticipation mixed with dread. Kayleigh was induced at 37 weeks to ensure Rhys could be delivered in a controlled medical environment, surrounded by the specialists he would need immediately. On October 30th, 2017, she was admitted to the labor ward, hopeful yet anxious. But once again, things did not go according to plan.
During the induction, Rhys began to show signs of distress. His heart rate climbed dangerously high. In a matter of moments, calm turned to urgency. Kayleigh was rushed into surgery for an emergency cesarean section. At 9:01 a.m. on October 31st, 2017, Rhys entered the world. The sound of his cry—strong, loud, and determined—was a moment of pure relief. For just a second, everything else faded away. He was here. He was alive.
But the battle had only just begun.
Almost immediately, Rhys was taken for specialized care. He was placed on medication to support his heart and carefully monitored. The first 24 hours were critical, and for Kayleigh and her partner, they were agonizing. Every beep of a monitor, every update from a nurse, carried enormous weight. Hope and fear lived side by side in their hearts. They clung to every small positive sign, praying that their son would be strong enough to survive.
Against expectations, Rhys’s oxygen levels remained stable. He did not require long-term ventilation, and some medications were gradually withdrawn. The medical team was cautiously optimistic. Then came his first detailed heart scan—an ECHO. What it revealed was even more complex than originally thought.
In addition to TGA and VSD, Rhys was also diagnosed with Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV), where both major arteries connect to the right ventricle, and Pulmonary Stenosis (PS), a narrowing of the pulmonary valve that restricts blood flow to the lungs. His heart, as doctors explained, was essentially “plumbed wrong.” It was a miracle that he was maintaining decent oxygen levels at all. His tiny heart was defying expectations.
For the first days, Rhys held on. But on his 11th day of life, his oxygen levels began to drop. The urgency returned. He was transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, a specialist center equipped to handle his complex condition. There, doctors decided he needed an urgent procedure to improve blood mixing in his heart.
At just 17 days old, on November 17th, 2017, Rhys underwent a balloon atrial septostomy. A catheter was guided through a vein in his groin into his heart, where a small balloon was inflated to create or enlarge a hole between the atria. This allowed oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix more effectively, improving oxygen delivery to his body.
The procedure worked. Rhys’s oxygen levels improved. But the relief was short-lived.
Kayleigh and her partner were told devastating news: Rhys had suffered a stroke during the procedure. The words felt unbearable. After everything he had already endured, this new complication seemed impossibly cruel. They spent six long days in the intensive care unit, watching their tiny son fight through yet another life-threatening challenge. Every hour was filled with fear, tears, and desperate hope.
Yet Rhys, even as a newborn, showed extraordinary strength. Day by day, he stabilized. Slowly, painfully, he began to recover. His resilience became a source of inspiration to everyone around him. Nurses, doctors, and his parents all saw something remarkable in him—a fighter’s spirit that refused to give up.
Eventually, Rhys was strong enough to move out of ICU and onto the ward. And then, at five weeks old, Kayleigh and her partner were finally able to take him home. That moment—walking out of the hospital with their son in their arms—was one they had dreamed of during countless sleepless nights. It was filled with joy, but also with the heavy knowledge that their journey was far from over.
At home, Rhys was closely monitored. The community medical team visited twice a week. Every cough, every change in color, every unusual sound sent waves of anxiety through his parents. But they also cherished the simple moments: holding him, watching him sleep, seeing him smile. Each day at home felt like a gift.
When Rhys was 10 months old, he faced another major milestone: his first open-heart surgery, known as the Glenn procedure. This operation rerouted blood flow to improve oxygen levels and reduce strain on his heart. It was a terrifying prospect for any parent—handing over your baby for open-heart surgery requires unimaginable courage.
The surgery was a success. Rhys recovered well, astonishing everyone once again with his strength. Kayleigh describes this period as a turning point. For the first time, there was a sense that things were moving in the right direction. Hope felt a little stronger. Fear, while still present, no longer ruled every moment.
Today, Rhys continues to be carefully monitored. Doctors are watching his VSD to see whether it will close on its own. If it does not, further surgery may be needed. There is also the possibility of a full repair or a Fontan procedure in the future, a complex surgery designed for children with single-ventricle heart physiology. The waiting is difficult. The uncertainty is heavy. But Kayleigh has learned to live one day at a time.
What remains constant is her gratitude for early diagnosis. She firmly believes that Rhys’s life was saved at that 20-week scan. Without it, his condition might not have been discovered in time to plan for his specialized birth and immediate care. “If it wasn’t for that sonographer,” Kayleigh says, “Rhys wouldn’t be here today. Early detection gave him a chance to fight.”
Her story is a powerful reminder of how vital prenatal screening can be. Many congenital heart defects go undiagnosed until after birth, when precious time may already be lost. Rhys’s journey shows how early knowledge can change outcomes—and save lives.
Today, Rhys is more than a medical story. He is a symbol of resilience, courage, and hope. To his parents, he is nothing short of a miracle. He has faced more in his short life than many face in a lifetime, yet he continues to smile, grow, and amaze everyone who meets him.
Kayleigh often reflects on how much her son has taught her. He has taught her patience, strength, and the true meaning of unconditional love. Through every surgery, every hospital stay, and every uncertain moment, one thing has never wavered: her fierce determination to stand by her child.
Rhys’s journey is still unfolding. The future may hold more challenges, but it also holds promise. With a devoted family, an expert medical team, and a heart—however complex—filled with extraordinary strength, Rhys continues to defy the odds.
In the end, this is not just a story about congenital heart disease. It is a story about a mother’s love, a family’s faith, and a little boy whose courage lights the way forward. Through fear and hope, setbacks and victories, Kayleigh and Rhys move forward together—proving that even the most fragile hearts can carry the greatest strength.