Boy given 10 days to live by Leeds doctors starts school for first time
A little boy who was given just 10 days to live by Leeds heart surgeons is starting school for the first time today.
A little boy who was given just 10 days to live by Leeds heart surgeons is starting school for the first time today.
4-year-old Flynn Brown was diagnosed with an extremely rare heart condition in the womb.
He needed emergency heart surgery at the LGI, where he was given a 50 per cent chance of survival.
But he defied doctors' expectations and is starting primary school this morning.
Flynn's mum, Stef Westmorland, says she's so thankful for doctors in Leeds which saved him:
“When Flynn went in for his first operation, the doctors said without the heart surgery he wouldn’t make it past ten days old.
“At that time we couldn’t think about the future. We didn’t think about Flynn saying his first word or taking his first steps, let alone his first day of school.
“Seeing how far he’s come amazes us. We’re a very positive and optimistic family and I’m so excited to wave him off at the school gates, but also a little nervous."
Flynn’s journey isn’t over as he still needs a further heart operation in January next year.
Jane McHale is from the Sick Children's Trust which supported Flynn and his family and says:
“It is wonderful to see Flynn starting school after what was such a tough start to life. But seeing how he fought his way through that first year, we know school won’t be a big challenge for him."