A mum has told how her little fighter son fought for his life after undergoing heart surgery at just eight weeks old.
Little Theo Curry was diagnosed with three complex heart defects before he was born and needed open heart surgery at just eight weeks old.
Despite spending much of his life in and out of hospital, his bravery throughout his difficult journey has inspired his family and friends.
Theo was diagnosed with heart problems when his mum Yasmin Curry was 18 weeks pregnant, Chronicle Live reports.
Abnormalities were found during scans and medics informed the family that surgery would be needed after his birth.
Theo was born in May 2020, at 29 weeks and six days, weighing just 3lbs. He remained in intensive care at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary for around seven weeks before he was transferred to the Freeman Hospital, then weighing around 5lbs.
However, within a couple of days, he became poorly due to issues with his bowel and an operation was carried out to remove part of it. Yasmin, of Consett, County Durham, said Theo was originally going to have three separate surgeries for the heart defects.
The 31-year-old, a social worker, added: "He was not getting any better. Because he was so ill, surgeons decided to have them all at once to give him a better chance. He was eight weeks old and he had open heart surgery over 13 hours to correct all three defects. He was only 5lbs, he was only little. But he did really well."
Theo was allowed to go home in September that year with oxygen and a feeding tube. Ten months later, he had to return for a second open-heart surgery, aged one.
The 31-year-old, a social worker, added: "He was not getting any better. Because he was so ill, surgeons decided to have them all at once to give him a better chance. He was eight weeks old and he had open heart surgery over 13 hours to correct all three defects. He was only 5lbs, he was only little. But he did really well."
Theo was allowed to go home in September that year with oxygen and a feeding tube. Ten months later, he had to return for a second open-heart surgery, aged one.
Yasmin said it was a worrying time for her and Theo's dad Ian, 33, as their baby fought hard, during the height of the pandemic. However the youngster, who is nearly two, is doing well now and has become an inspiration for all around him.
"He's really improving, he no longer has a feeding tube and he's just so happy," says Yasmin. "He used to smile in his hospital bed. Nothing seems to faze him. He's such a resilient little boy - a little fighter."
Yasmin said it was a worrying time for her and Theo's dad Ian, 33, as their baby fought hard, during the height of the pandemic. However the youngster, who is nearly two, is doing well now and has become an inspiration for all around him.
"He's really improving, he no longer has a feeding tube and he's just so happy," says Yasmin. "He used to smile in his hospital bed. Nothing seems to faze him. He's such a resilient little boy - a little fighter."
Yasmin said it was a worrying time for her and Theo's dad Ian, 33, as their baby fought hard, during the height of the pandemic. However the youngster, who is nearly two, is doing well now and has become an inspiration for all around him.
"He's really improving, he no longer has a feeding tube and he's just so happy," says Yasmin. "He used to smile in his hospital bed. Nothing seems to faze him. He's such a resilient little boy - a little fighter."
The family say the Freeman Hospital became a second home for them and without the support of the Children's Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) their stay in hospital would have been harder.
Yasmin said: "Because of CHUF we were able stay on the hospital grounds close to our son, we received help towards the cost of staying long term in hospital. We had essential equipment on the ward that we needed and they fund the most amazing play specialist nurse team. The list is endless, we are truly grateful for all the help we received."
To thank the CHUF team, Theo's dad Ian, his uncle David Curry and friends Scott Bell, Marc Anderson and Kevin Kay are raising money by walking from Edinburgh to Consett - an incredible 135 miles over five days - starting this weekend.
A JustGiving page has been set up to help raise funds. Donations can be made here. The British Heart Foundation is also set to benefit from the sponsored walk.
