Happy Kirsty gets a new heart

Published 18 Jun 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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One of the first children in Fermanagh to receive a heart transplant, Lisnaskea schoolgirl Kirsty Clarke was delighted to return to her P7 classroom at the Moat Primary this week.

The 11-year-old, who received a warm welcome on her return to school on Tuesday, is a daughter of Alan and Sharon Clarke, who also have a younger daughter, Zara, a P4 pupil.

The development is a delightful one for both the young girl"s family and the school community as it comes three months after Kirsty underwent a heart transplant at the Children"s Heart Unit at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne on March 13, this year. According to her parents she has made a fantastic recovery and is back to her old self.

It is certainly a different story from just over 12 months ago, when in May last year. Kirsty started to become very sick. 'She was very tired and lost a lot of weight,' explain her parents, who mention that their daughter also has insulin dependent diabetes (diagnosed in May 2004).

'She was sleeping a lot,' said her father, who explained that she was referred from the Erne Hospital to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where the heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, was diagnosed.

In July 2008, Kirsty had a pacemaker and defibrillator fitted and spent nine weeks in hospital.

Her mother says that at that stage they were told that further down the line she would need a heart transplant. However a virus attacked her heart at Christmas and her health deteriorated.

Leading up to the transplant operation, she was in hospital from Boxing Day 2008 until Good Friday. Initially she was in the Erne Hospital Children"s Ward and then moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children where she remained in Clark Clinic until receiving the call to come to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Her parents explain that they received a call on February 13, but when they travelled across the available heart wasn"t a match and the schoolgirl returned to the Royal.

On receiving the second call in March, she and her parents once again flew over to Newcastle and the operation went ahead successfully in the Children"s Heart Unit.

Kirsty spent nine and a half hours in theatre. Her parents said they left her at 8.45am and it was 6.30pm that evening before they saw her. Two hours were in bypass waiting on the new heart, said her father.

The Clarkes said everything went successfully and there were no setbacks. Afterwards, Kirsty spent three months in isolation. One month was spent in isolation in hospital, followed by two months at home. 'June 13 was the day she could break free,' said her parents with a smile.

Kirsty"s mother believes she is one of the first children in Fermanagh to undergo a heart transplant.

She said that she had often heard about the operation on television, but when it comes to your own door, it"s a worrying time. She is very thankful how it all worked out.

Kirsty returns to Freeman Hospital in Newcastle once a fortnight for check-ups, having previously made weekly visits. Those visits will become monthly trips and the Royal will share in her care.

Moat Principal, Felicity Humphreys is delighted to see Kirsty back at school this week.

She acknowledged the kindness of the school community and the people of Lisnaskea for their support to Kirsty and her family. (Various fundraisers were held at the school).

'It is lovely to see her back and to see her running on sports day', said Mrs. Humphreys, who describes the pupil as very precious to all of them.

'She has been a priority all year - she"s fabulous,' said the delighted school principal.

The Clarke family is appreciative of the care given by all of Kirsty"s doctors and medical teams. They mention the GPs at Lisnaskea Health Centre, including Dr Porteous and Dr. McCaffrey; Dr. Lipscomb at the Erne Hospital and Dr. Casey at the Royal. They also acknowledge Dr. Kirk and the medical team in Newcastle. 'It is so hard to thank them all,' said the Clarkes.

A very special mention is given to Felicity Humphreys and the Moat Primary School staff and pupils for all their backing. They acknowledged the fundraising initiatives undertaken by the school and also the care they took of Zara.

The family also appreciates Kirsty"s grandmother Lily Graham, who looked after Zara during Kirsty"s treatment, and their family members who rallied round. Both Lily and Zara were able to spend the last week with them in Newcastle before Kirsty returned to Northern Ireland.

In the future, Alan and Sharon plan to organise fundraisers for Kirsty"s wards at the Erne, Belfast and Newcastle hospitals, as a means of saying thank-you.

They are thankful to Alan"s employer Kevin Rice, of Lisnaskea, and they pay a warm tribute to the Lisnaskea community for its generous support and extend thanks to all.

The prayer support that came from all over the community has been very important to the family, who also express gratitude to Canon Denis Robinson of Aghavea Parish.

The Clarkes, who would encourage people to carry donor cards, are very thankful to Kirsty"s donor family.

Last week, the Lisnaskea schoolgirl learned that she had been recognised with a Child of Courage Award through the William Keown Trust Award.

See this on... fermanagh.tv

A full film report of this story can be seen at fermanagh.tv

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 18 Jun 09

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