Community helping family to lead a 'new normal life' following toddler's cardiac arrest

On Saturday, March 5, Ivy Wright's heart stopped beating and her dad Stu had to administer life-saving CPR before rushing her to hospital.

Scans at Alder Hey Children's Hospital discovered a tumour the "size of an egg" on the young girl's heart and she was later diagnosed with having cardiac fibroma; a benign tumour that affects the rhythm of her heart.

After being placed under sedation in ICU, Ivy, from Eccleston, has responded well and seems to have recovered to a happier and stronger version of herself.

Ivy was placed under sedation in ICU following her cardiac arrest

Dad Stu said: "Ivy's recovery has been a true mix of emotions for us.

"At one point in ICU, Ivy was quoted as being in the 1% of outcomes in surviving without brain damage, as her condition was amplified by the rarity of her condition in children.

"However, Ivy now continues to move on in life, with a huge smile and a new found determination to achieve things she wouldn't have engaged with previously - almost an 'I've got through worse things than this mentality' from a 3-year-old!".

Stu and Ivy

To monitor Ivy's progress in her recovery, an implant has been placed on her chest which reports her heart rhythms to doctors at Alder Hey on a daily basis.

Ivy's family have also been helped in their recovery from the traumatic episode due to the "overwhelming" amount of support offered by the local community.

Following Ivy's cardiac arrest in March, staff at St Marks Preschool fundraised for a defibrillator and first aid training so that parents and staff would know what to do if ever faced with the same situation.

Touched by the story, local health care professionals donated a defibrillator to the nursery while first aid training was also provided without charge, meaning that more than £5000 was donated to charities which helped make Ivy's journey successful.

Ivy has recovered with a stronger mentality, dad Stu said

Further to this, local washroom services company Concept Hygiene donated another defibrillator to the family to ensure that Ivy has the life-saving equipment on hand at all times.

This allowed the family to go on their first holiday since Ivy's hospitalisation, recently spending two weeks in Guernsey with a "very well travelled carebear and defib in tow".

Ivy with her uncle Anthony and Concept Hygiene employee Victoria, after being donated the defib

Stu added: "The sheer kindness of this town has been overwhelming, from the raffle donations to small things like neighbours offering to do the shopping for us.

"As with many things, you can't see the generosity and caring around you until you truly need it.

"We will never be able to thank everyone enough for their support, enabling us to lead a new normal life and giving us the piece of mind knowing we have the life-saving kit should that time ever come again."

The community of St Helens have rallied around Ivy and the family