Winning baby defies the odds
She was diagnosed with a heart condition shortly after birth and underwent surgery.
THE huge smile on baby Eden Gillian-Mae Baldwin’s face, after winning the 18-24 month age group in the South Coast Herald’s baby competition, brought tears to the eyes of her parents Samantha and Quinton.
Eden was born at Roseacres Life Hospital in Johannesburg on September 15, 2011. However, 24 hours later she was diagnosed with a heart condition referred to as pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD), a cyanotic congenital heart disease characterised by underdevelopment of the right ventricular (RV) outflow tract.
And 10 days after birth, she had her first operation, followed by open heart-surgery a year later.
She had a great team of leading surgeons from the Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg and, more specifically, the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa.
Although she will require future operations, she has thus far exceeded her doctor’s expectations in recovery. Eden is her parent’s shining light, bringing them overwhelming joy.
She is now two years old, leads a normal, healthy life, and is looking forward to attending crèche in a few weeks’ time.
