When Esme came into the world in July 2020, her parents were filled with joy and hope. She was their first child, born during the global lockdown—a time already full of uncertainty. But nothing could have prepared them for the challenges ahead.

This is Esme’s story, told with love and courage by her mother, Hannah.
(A few photos in this story belong to the family and capture their personal journey.)

A Fragile Beginning

Esme was born healthy, or so it seemed. Yet from the start, her parents noticed that feeding was difficult. She struggled to nurse and gain weight. The community nurses who visited regularly suspected developmental delay, a common issue that can sometimes improve with time.

But as the months went on, something didn’t feel right.

When Esme was 11 months old, she developed a cough that lasted for a week. Concerned, her parents took her to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with bronchiolitis, a viral infection common in babies, and admitted her because her oxygen levels were unusually low.

At first, everyone thought it was a simple respiratory infection. No one imagined that Esme’s tiny heart was the reason her body was struggling.

A Discovery That Changed Everything

After a week in the hospital, Esme’s condition did not improve.
Her blood sugar remained unstable, and her breathing still looked labored.

Doctors decided to take a closer look.
An X-ray revealed something unexpected — her heart appeared enlarged.
Further tests, including listening to her chest, revealed a heart murmur.

That moment marked the turning point.

Esme was sent for an echocardiogram — a heart ultrasound that finally gave the answers everyone had been searching for. The results were devastating: Esme had a complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), a rare and serious congenital heart defect.

Her heart had holes between the chambers and malformed valves that disrupted the blood flow. She needed open-heart surgery to survive.

Waiting for the Right Moment

The doctors explained that Esme couldn’t be operated on immediately.
Her body was still fighting the infection, and performing major heart surgery while she was sick could be too dangerous.

Her parents could do nothing but wait — two long, terrifying weeks of uncertainty.

Every night, Hannah watched her little girl sleep, holding her tiny hand, wondering if she would make it to her first birthday. Every day felt like a mix of fear and faith.

Finally, ten days before Esme turned one, her infection cleared. The surgeons scheduled her life-saving operation.

The Longest Day

The morning of the surgery arrived with quiet tension.
Esme was taken to the operating room, her parents whispering words of love and courage.

The surgery would take hours. Doctors didn’t know whether they could repair her heart valves or if they would need to replace them entirely. Replacing them would mean future surgeries as she grew — something every parent fears.

The wait was unbearable.

Then the news came: the surgery had been successful.
The surgeons had managed to repair her valves instead of replacing them.

The relief was overwhelming. Tears flowed freely. Esme had survived her open-heart surgery.

A Birthday of Hope

On the day of her first birthday, Esme’s parents received the best gift imaginable — hope.

After her operation, doctors weren’t sure whether she would need a pacemaker, as her heart rhythm was still under observation. But by her birthday, the temporary pacing wires were removed.

Esme’s heart was beating strongly on its own.

That day, surrounded by balloons and quiet celebration, her parents knew they had witnessed a miracle.

Six Weeks in Hospital

In total, Esme spent six and a half weeks in the hospital.
Those days were filled with uncertainty, sleepless nights, and cautious optimism.

Her recovery was steady. Day by day, she gained strength.
The feeding issues that once seemed so worrying slowly improved.
The color returned to her cheeks. Her mother could finally hold her without fear of tangled wires or monitors.

Leaving the hospital felt surreal — like stepping into a new chapter.
The world outside was the same, but everything in their hearts had changed.

The What-Ifs

Looking back, Hannah often wonders what might have been different if Esme’s heart defect had been detected during pregnancy.

“It’s terrifying to think how close we came to losing her,” she says. “If we had known earlier, if the condition had been seen on the scans, we could have prepared. Maybe she wouldn’t have suffered so much.”

Many congenital heart defects like AVSD can be detected through prenatal screening, but not all are caught. Early detection allows parents and doctors to plan treatment right after birth, improving survival chances.

Hannah shares her story to raise awareness — not out of regret, but out of gratitude that Esme’s condition was finally discovered in time.

A Happy, Healthy Girl

Today, Esme is three years old — bright, cheerful, and full of life.
To anyone meeting her for the first time, she looks like any other child. There are no visible signs of her heart surgery, except for the faint scar across her chest.

She calls it her “magic line.”
It’s a reminder of her bravery, her survival, and the love that carried her through.

Esme runs, laughs, and plays like every other child her age. Her heart, once fragile, beats strong and steady — a testament to modern medicine and a family’s unwavering strength.

A Message to Other Parents

Hannah hopes that sharing Esme’s story will encourage other parents to trust their instincts.

“If something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she says. “You know your child better than anyone. Early action can save lives.”

She also wants other families facing congenital heart defects to know that they’re not alone.
There are support groups, charities, and communities that offer guidance, comfort, and practical help during those dark, uncertain times.

“Every tiny heartbeat matters,” Hannah says. “Esme is living proof.”

A Little Girl, A Big Legacy

Esme’s journey is a powerful reminder that hope is stronger than fear.
She faced one of the most complex heart defects — atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) — and came through it with courage and joy.

Her story continues to inspire families worldwide who are walking the same path: the long nights in hospitals, the silent prayers, the waiting, the fear — and finally, the joy of survival.

Through Esme’s courage, her family learned the true meaning of resilience, love, and the miracles that happen in everyday life.