A ‘MIRACLE’ baby’s fight for survival has inspired two schools to unite for a fundraising mission.
Little Lacie-Mia Turner had open heart surgery at just four days because her arteries were the wrong way round.
She spent the first six weeks of her life in various hospitals - and doctors feared she may not survive a later bleed on the brain.
But Lacie-Mia is now a happy, smiling seven-month-old.
Proud mum Emma, of Beck Road, Shiregreen, said: “It was a shock to find out Lacie-Mia had the condition, especially as a heart scan when I was pregnant showed all her organs were fine.
“But she fought everything thrown at her - even in theatre she was fighting the anesthetic and pulling tubes out!
“They have said she is a miracle to be here after everything.”
Lacie-Mia’s health battle began when she was born with a knot in her umbilical cord.
Doctors then discovered she had TGA - a transposition of the great arteries in her heart - a condition that affects one in every 5,000 babies but is more common in boys.
She also has other heart complications which may need further treatment and problems with her limbs.
Teachers at Hartley Brook School and at Hatfield Primary in Shiregreen, where Lacie-Mia’s two sisters and brother go, organised a non-uniform day to boost children’s heart charity Patches.
The charity has helped Emma, 31, and husband Keith through tough times.
Emma said: “They’ve been a very big support. People have been on the phone to me for four hours just helping me through, and that’s why I wanted to do the fundraising.”
Youngsters including Lacie-Mia’s brother Luke, five, and sisters Eloise, seven, and Jamie-Leigh, nine, wore red clothes or clothing with hearts for their Hearts for Hearts charity day.
They also sold wristbands, raising nearly £1,000, through the Hartley Brook and Hatfield Academy. It is now hoped the event will become annual.
Key Stage One leader Claire Costello, who organised the event with senior vice principal Sonja Butterworth, said: “We were inspired by Lacie-Mia’s story and just wanted to do something to support families in the community.”
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