A HAPPY, energetic toddler, it is hard to believe that Joshua Newman has overcome six cardiac arrests, 16 blood transfusions, three major operations and a life-threatening bowel condition – all before he turned six months old.
The "miracle" toddler, from Writtle, who was born at 28 weeks, weighing just 1.14kg, spent his first five months fighting a congenital heart condition in Broomfield Hospital, and the Royal Brompton, in London, with doctors never sure if he would even make it.
But after two major operations to repair his heart, one of which doctors had never before carried out on a child so small, the 21-month-old is now fully recovered, and "absolutely loves life".
His ecstatic parents, Suzy and Alan, now want to give back to the "inspirational" doctors and nurses who saved their son by helping to raise funds for a state-of-the-art hybrid theatre at the London hospital.
"Our life was tough and challenging but now it's time to give back and say thank you to them," said Suzy, 37.
"Our one hope is for just one person out there to read the paper and say 'actually I've got some money that I want to give to charity, why not give it to the hospital'."
The Chelmsford couple tried for eight years to conceive a child, undergoing countless rounds of IVF, and were told by doctors they would probably never conceive, before Suzy fell pregnant with Joshua in 2012, their "miracle baby".
It was then at their 20-week scan that doctors discovered a narrowing of his aorta, and two holes in his heart, before Suzy went into labour 12 weeks prematurely.
Joshua was born at Broomfield Hospital in December that year weighing only 2lb 7oz, and suffered four cardiac arrests before he was two hours old, leaving his anguished parents unable to hold him or see him.
Suzy said: "Having waited eight very long years to become parents, here we now were alone in an empty delivery room looking at each other, stunned at what had just happened. It was a totally surreal feeling.
"We just longed for another glimpse of our baby again and it was torture not being allowed to be near him."
After his condition was stabilised, Joshua was taken immediately by Children's Acute Transport Service to the Royal Brompton, a specialist centre for heart and lung conditions, where on January 10, 2013, doctors had no choice but to operate, despite his tiny size.
Suzy said: "As a parent you feel incredibly helpless. What words do you say to your baby not knowing if it is going to be the last time you are going to see or touch him? It's every parent's nightmare."
After two hours they received the call that Joshua had survived the surgery, but just 11 days later he contracted a life-threatening bowel condition, and specialist gastroenterology surgeons arrived to rush him back into theatre.
Then after 12 weeks spent in intensive care recovering, he returned to theatre once again for a final eight-hour repair on his heart using donor tissue, before finally being allowed to return home on May 11, 2013, where he has now been given a clean bill of health.
Suzy said: "He absolutely loves life; he loves every day of his life, and has this big smile which just melts everyone's heart. He's my inspiration, he's my hero.
"Today there are too many people who are quick to criticise the NHS and their staff. We can honestly say that our experience at the Royal Brompton helped us see the NHS at its very best and we will be eternally grateful to have this provision available in our country, as without this service and expertise we believe our son wouldn't be here today."
To read more about the Royal Brompton Hospital's 'Hybrid Theatre Appeal' click here
