I never imagined that I would have another baby, so when my test came back positive I was thrilled...scared but thrilled! It had been 14 years since my last baby, who was born completely healthy with no complications and I just assumed this baby would be the same.

My pregnancy progressed uneventfully, we had all the tests and everything was looking good. I remember going to the 18 week ultrasound and all we could talk about was whether we were going to have a girl or another boy. We were definitely not expecting what was to come.

The sonographer took such a long time looking at our baby's heart We were told that our precious baby boy had a serious heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries or TGA. The main arteries, the Aorta and Pulmonary Artery were in the wrong positions, which meant that while he was still inside the womb it wasn't an issue but once he was born the oxygenated blood would not be delivered to his vital organs. He would need open heart surgery.

We were then referred to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital to meet our baby's cardiologist, Dr Alex Gooi, who told us that our baby had standard TGA with no signs of other defects. Once he was born he would have to have a procedure called a Balloon Septostomy to allow the blood to mix to keep him alive until his open heart surgery, which would probably be scheduled for a month after he was born. We were also advised that the success rate for the Arterial Switch was higher than 90 per cent and that our baby should be able to live a normal healthy life if there were no further complications. We left there feeling completely exhausted, but slightly relieved that the prognosis was so good.

Jensen Jeffrey Ashby was born 8 pound 11, in a theatre full of medical staff and was very, very blue. I was not able to hold him. I saw him briefly before they rushed him away. I was taken up to see him a few hours later and was told that he wasn't doing very well, he was rushed in for emergency open heart surgery. I hadn't even had a chance to hold him.

Jensen was in surgery all day. All we could do was wait, hope and pray. Over the next week, there were various complications, so off he went for his second open heart surgery in less than 2 weeks.

Finally we got our first cuddle at almost 3 weeks old. We were then transferred to the ward and went home a week later.
We were told that there was a chance of Jensen having Cerebral Palsy because of the low oxygen levels, so we have been having regular physio and paediatric appointments and were told we would not know whether he had Celebral Palsy until he started walking (or not walking) He was slightly behind on his milestones, so there were some concerns, but on Boxing Day, a few weeks before his first birthday Jensen took his first steps.

There is always the possibility of more surgery down the track, but our fingers will be forever crossed. Our special thanks are extended to HeartKids for their ongoing support and for the work they are doing to ensure less children like Jensen are born with CHD.

Little Jensen is just about to turn one.. he and his family are looking forward to the good times ahead! Instead of receiving presents for his first birthday, Jensen's family requested donations be given to HeartKids.