The Littlechild family, Auckland
The pains of labour and birth are still fresh in the mind of new mum Trina Littlechild, from Papatoetoe, as she recollects the story of how her newborn son Liona received open heart surgery at just three days old.
When Liona was born on 25 August 2006, Trina, now mother of two, thought his blue and purple colour was normal for a newborn and he’d be fine in a minute. However, when three doctors came into the room at Middlemore Hospital with an incubator she knew something was wrong. Liona was taken to the neonatal unit immediately. For the next two days little Liona fought for every breath while he was on a ventilator and “magic gas’.
On the third day Trina was called urgently to Liona’s bedside where 11 professionals were attending him. Liona had suffered several cardiac arrests and had been given adrenalin to survive. The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Starship Hospital diagnosed Liona over the phone with a heart condition known as TAPVR — Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, where the pulmonary vein on the right side of his heart was connected to his liver instead of his heart. This explained Liona’s inability to breathe properly as it stopped the blood from being properly oxygenated.
Within 10 minutes Liona was rushed to Starship Hospital where he received life saving open heart surgery, a 7-hour operation. While Liona was recovering in the intensive care unit, mum Trina stayed at the Ronald McDonald House Family Room where she could relax and sleep in one of the 13 rooms just moments away from Liona’s bedside. Trina says “the staff are great and supportive — I don't know any other place that treats people with such warm hospitality”.
Sadly, after 51 days fighting for his life beautiful little Liona was taken off life support in mid October and peacefully passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Littlechild family.
The Ronald McDonald House Family Room in the Starship Hospital provides 13 short stay beds for caregivers of children in intensive care units, when it is imperative the parents are just a short distance away. The Family Room also provides daily respite for local families staying with their child on the ward, a quiet place to relax and unwind in friendly space.
Site map
The RMH Auckland Trust funds and governs Ronald McDonald House Auckland (48 rooms) and the Ronald McDonald House Family Room (13 short stay critical care rooms) in Starship Hospital. It is a registered community charitable trust comprised of the following partners: Auckland District Health Board, Child Cancer Foundation, Heart Children, The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland, Ronald McDonald House Charities and 2 community representatives. The House and Family Room provide a ‘home away from home’ for over 3,000 families of children with life-threatening illnesses each year. The Trust through its staff and partnerships actively fundraises throughout New Zealand to achieve the $2,300,000 p.a. it needs to run the facilities and support its families. Charity Registration number: CC23591