A Lancaster toddler has been celebrated in a special way for her courage in battling a life-threatening rare heart condition.
A new bench has been installed on St George's Quay in Lancaster to recognise Orla Wray, aged one, who had open heart surgery after being rushed to hospital days after she was born.
The bright red bench is on the banks of the Lune near to the Maritime Museum as a 'living tribute' to Orla, celebrating her bravery and shining a spotlight on those living with cardiovascular disease, including congenital heart defects.
Orla, who had a small tube fitted at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool to help blood flow in the right direction, spent nine days in intensive care and a further week on a cardiac ward.
She was diagnosed with double outlet right ventricle (fallot type), a complex heart condition where, amongst other problems, her aorta and pulmonary artery are connected to the heart’s right ventricle (chamber) instead of the left ventricle.
“It was the most frightening time of our lives," said Alice Wray, Orla's mum.
"Suddenly all our joy turned to indescribable fear.
"We just feel so grateful for the incredible team at Alder Hey and to all the research carried out over the years that has been funded by the British Heart Foundation.
“We were told that Orla’s heart defect meant that the right side of the heart had to do the work of both sides, which can lead to mixed blood flow and problems in delivering oxygen-rich blood to the body.”
Orla went home at 24 days old, thanks to a revolutionary new home monitoring service developed at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital called Little Hearts at Home.
This meant Orla could be monitored from home with all the readings sent directly to clinicians.
The bench has been installed by Lancaster City Council crews in collaboration with the British Heart Foundation.
“It’s so special having a red bench to celebrate Orla," said Alice.
"It’s lovely to have a place to go to sit and remember the journey we’ve been on as a family.
“Adam and I also love the idea that Orla’s bench could encourage people to sit, reflect or start conversations about heart health. It’s such an important subject that needs to be spoken about more.
“Orla is completely oblivious to her heart issues right now since she's so young. As she grows up, I think walking past or visiting the bench will be a nice gentle way to start a conversation and talk to her about her heart.”
The Wray family are involved in the development of the Little Hearts At Home app, funded by the British Heart Foundation and Alder Hey Children’s Charity, which will support many other families of babies with heart defects to take their children home with the reassurance that they are being monitored by specialists.
Alice and Adam are among dozens of people who have bravely shared their story on camera as part of a new national campaign by British Heart Foundation (BHF).
To mark 65 years since BHF began, the charity is unveiling 65 red benches across the UK in tribute to those living with cardiovascular disease, including congenital heart defects.
Behind every bench is a powerful real-life story of someone living with a cardiovascular condition – and thanks to research, they can survive to enjoy life with their loved ones.
Every three minutes, someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease, with the condition affecting more than eight million people in the UK alone.
British Heart Foundation hopes that the red benches will encourage others to open up about their experience of living with cardiovascular disease, and help raise awareness across the UK.
The charity is also urging people for donations so they can help fund more groundbreaking research to keep the nation beating.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at British Heart Foundation said: “Orla’s story shows the true reality of living with cardiovascular disease, and we are so grateful that her parents Adam and Alice are courageously sharing their experiences to help others.
“Despite being one of the UK’s biggest killers, our new findings show cardiovascular disease is still misunderstood or not taken seriously – and that those living with it face judgement and challenges.
“By sharing the stories of people who live with cardiovascular disease on our iconic red benches across the UK, we hope to start more conversations that change dangerous misconceptions. Research will help us save and improve more lives, but the only way we can fund the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow is thanks to the public’s generous donations.”
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