A mum said she urgently needs help after having to give up her job to be with her baby son, who's been "fighting for his life" in intensive care for the past 15 months.
Anamaria Ruta's 20-month-old son Ayan was born on July 19 2021 with a ventricular septal defect, meaning there was a hole in the wall of his heart.
He had his first heart operation in Glasgow, and was eventually able to go back home.
Sadly, a year later, Anamaria realised Ayan was constantly sleepy at home and something was very wrong.
He was taken back to the hospital and diagnosed with a very complex congenital heart disease.
Ayan is now an inpatient at the Claredon Wing in Leeds Children's Hospital.
In February this year, doctors found out that he has endocarditis, a severe heart infection, which has left him in critical condition, fighting for his life.
So far, at the young age of one year and eight months old, Ayan has already undergone three invasive heart surgeries. His mother said it was unimaginably painful to watch her son go through it.
Anamaria, who is four months pregnant with her third child while also supporting Ayan and his older brother, Rehan, told HullLive : "It's very hard to see my baby in the harshest situation, fighting for his life. He is so strong and is trying so hard.
"He has been through three surgeries and is still on ventilation because he can't breathe by himself. The doctors did try to take him off the tubes to let him breathe by himself but he can't do it.
"At one point, it felt like everything was getting better and fine but they've now found this bad infection, which could destroy him."
Both of Ayan's parents had to leave work to care for him, and were struggling to make ends meet.
They're receiving financial support from the Children's Heart Surgery Fund, which helps families in their situation.
Anamaria said: "Please help us, it is a very hard situation for us.
"I don't want to come across as a scrounger but at this awful time, it is the only thing we can do. I haven't been home since January 15 and we still have bills to pay.
"My other son is only two years old and he is with me all day at the hospital.
"Food and drinks are very expensive here, and he is here all day with nothing to do.
"We have accommodation provided by the hospital but I need to take Rehan with me back and forth every day which adds up in costs.
"We need support, and hopefully our family will get a break and little Ayan will be able to come back home."
You can contribute to Ayan's family GoFundMe page here.
