Ivy’s pregnancy scans had all appeared perfectly normal, giving her parents every reason to look forward to her arrival with excitement. Then, during a routine six-week check-up, a loud heart murmur led to devastating news: their daughter had a ventricular septal defect, a hole in her heart. Mum Emma, who works as a midwife herself, immediately spiralled into feelings of guilt, repeatedly asking what she could possibly have missed.

Feeding difficulties, rapid breathing and slow weight gain quickly became daily realities. Their world transformed overnight into a calendar of cardiology appointments and preparations for open-heart surgery. The day they handed their tiny baby over for four-and-a-half hours of surgery felt like an eternity.

Emma later shared that her mind had gone straight to self-blame until the cardiologist gently reassured her that nothing could have been known earlier. The shock that initially threatened to steal their joy instead taught them a love far fiercer than fear.

The endless hours spent watching Ivy breathe, the tears before surgery and the courage required to trust the medical team have become powerful proof of parental strength. Ivy’s heart now beats with the same courage her family showed her, turning an unexpected diagnosis into a story of hope and unbreakable bonds.