Pregnancy joy for mum of tragic heart tot Lydia Rose Sayle

May 8 2011 by Helen Rae, Sunday Sun

THE mum of brave heart transplant tot Lydia Rose Sayle has spoken of her joy at finding out she is pregnant.

Heather Findley and partner Gary Sayle were devastated when their 15–month-old daughter died last December, just months after her emergency swap op.

But in January, their heartache turned to joy when they discovered they were expecting another child.

They now face an anxious wait until September to see if their unborn baby will have the same heart defect.

Heather, 23, an admin assistant, said Lydia was irreplaceable and would be forever in her 25-year-old plasterer Gary’s thoughts.

Speaking from their home in Egremont, Cumbria, Heather said: “Lydia was a flirty, happy little girl who had a coy smile and big blue eyes.

“She is very much missed and we have lots of memories of our time with her - nothing will ever replace her as she was one of a kind.

“When I found out I was pregnant I had mixed emotions, but Gary and I are excited about the news. I just hope Lydia would approve and I wish she was here with us.”

Lydia was almost nine months old when her heart muscle was found to be fatally failing from cardiomyopathy.

She received treatment at the Freeman’s specialist children’s heart unit where the toddler was put on a life-support system until surgeons fitted an artificial Berlin Heart that she remained on until an emergency donor was found from Croatia in July last year.

It was thought the condition had been brought on by a virus but subsequent tests on her parents revealed Heather has cardiomyopathy and Lydia’s condition was, in fact, inherited.

Heather said: “After an inquest into Lydia’s death we got in touch with the Freeman and asked for a heart scan to make sure Gary and I didn’t have any problems. I was told that I had a mild form of dilated cardiomyopathy and, therefore, which is Lydia must have been born with her condition.

“There is a chance my unborn baby could have it but he or she will be closely monitored and scanned.”

The pair are strong supporters of the Organ Donor Register and urge folk to support the system.

Heather added: “Lydia didn’t survive but her heart transplant allowed her to have a second chance of life and gave us precious time with our daughter.”