Eva Galvin

At 20 weeks pregnant mum Adrianne was given the news every prospective parent fears. The scan had picked up a major heart defect, and the baby growing inside her was likely to be brain damaged. She was advised to terminate. But Adrienne refused. 

Fast forward 2 years, and little Eva is about to embark on her first international flight. She is a bright and adventurous toddler who gives anything a go.

But it hasn’t been an easy road for Adrianne and husband Ronan. They watched their baby girl go into cardiac arrest several times, and medical misadventure led to Eva suffering a stroke while having open heart surgery. On top of all of that she had to endure months of a full body cast because she also suffered from hip dysplasia.

Eva can now walk properly and is a miracle child on so many levels. She will need on-going heart surgeries throughout her life but until the next one Adrienne and Ronan count each day as a blessing.

Adrienne says hardly a day goes by without shedding a few tears; either tears of grief, happiness or sadness but she says she looks at Eva every day with a smile because she knows how lucky they are to have her in their lives. 

“She is such is such a happy full of life little girl and I can’t imagine my life without her!”

Adrienne says she could not have coped without the support of Heart Kids, and she herself is now a volunteer worker for the organisation, helping other heart families.