Thinking back on the time I went in for my 19 week ultrasound, for the youngest of my three kids, and hearing the words “there is something really wrong with your baby’s heart” hits me hard until today.

Inayah was diagnosed in utero with a rare congenital heart disease called Hetrotaxy Left Atrial Isomerism. This CHD is very rare and effects one in 200,000 girls. They are born with only half a heart, rotated and facing backwards. They are often born with either no spleen or many spleens (polyspleenic)

Having undergone her first open heart surgery at 3 months old, Inayah went on to have 5 more open heart surgeries before the age of 4, where a pacemaker and mechanical valve was inserted.

In the year 2022, Inayah unfortunately caught influenza A, which proved to be too much for her heart to handle and she went into acute heart failure. This meant she would urgently need a heart transplant.

In 2023, Inayah received the gift of extended life through the generosity of a donor at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Although we experienced many complications and hiccups, through intensive therapy and TLC, Inayah is now a happy, thriving little 6 year old who now dreams of being a heart doctor to help other kids like her!