A Lanarkshire toddler has spent 10 months in hospital after a common virus left her in desperate need of a new heart.
Alayah Stewart, from Newarthill near Motherwell, has been left with brain damage following the devastating disease. The tot is currently living with a mechanical pump, called a Berlin heart, which is carrying out the function of her failed organ.
The three-year-old is currently at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and requires care 24/7. She won’t be able to return home to her family until she has had a successful transplant operation.
The brave youngster first fell critically ill in December 2022 after a common virus called RSV attacked her heart, reports The Daily Record.
Doctors then diagnosed Aalayah with cardiomyopathy – a disorder that affects the heart muscles. She was hooked up to a ventilator, and a specialist heart machine called an ECMO – which took over the function of her heart.
Aalayah initially bounced back, however, last March her life was turned upside down when she suffered a cardiac arrest in The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
Aalayah with her dad Thomas.
(Image: Daily Record)
Aalayah was rushed to Freeman Hospital by police escort, where specialists fitted the Berlin heart.
Dad Thomas said: “Aalayah’s heart is broken and she needs a new one. She won’t be able to come home until she does. We feel like our hearts are broken too.
“Our girl is incredible, she performs miracles every day. What she has been through is inspiring to us all.
“Her family is missing her so much. We’ve celebrated birthdays down here with all the family, we’ve tried to make things as normal as possible for Aalayah. But this is not the life we want for her. We want her home with her family and living the life every child deserves.”
Thomas, 42, who has 12 children with wife Kelly, 40, says the past 10 months have been the hardest of their lives. The pair swap places each week so they can both be with Aalayah.
He said: “That week in March 2024 was just the most traumatic time any parent could go through. Seeing Aalayah suffer a cardiac arrest was our worst nightmare.
“I would never want any parent to be in that situation. It is an unimaginable pain, seeing your child go through that. It destroys you.
“It was just sheer terror. We thought we had lost her. All the doctors came rushing in there was an alarm going off. Within days we were given a police escort down with Aalayah to Freeman Hospital.
“We were only down there a few days and we got a call at 6am to say that Aalayah had suffered brain damage. We were beyond devastated. She lost the ability to walk and talk. She had to relearn everything.
Aalayah will need to learn to walk again.
(Image: Daily Record)
“Thankfully, she’s still here and still proving absolutely everyone wrong. We couldn’t be more proud of her. She is taking huge strides.
“The first time she spoke again was indescribable – moments like that give us so much hope.
Thomas has launched an online appeal to raise funds for a costly physio machine that is helping her take her first steps – after being left unable to walk.
The walker costs £38,000 and they are determined to raise the cash for the machine to be a permanent fixture in the specialist unit that Aalayah calls home.
He hopes the machine will benefit other children like Aalayah in the future as a thanks to the incredible team at Freeman Hospital.
“I’m just in awe at them,” he added. “The work they do is exceptional they really are Aalayah’s lifeline.
“Our dream is to see her walk again. This incredible device gives her the best possible chance to do that. She absolutely thrives when she is on it.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Join Glasgow Live’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages
Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox