The journey of a heart parent – by Emma Louise Hart
You got to take your baby home;
We took ours to another hospital.
You got to wake up all hours of the night to do feeds;
We didn’t sleep watching our baby being attached to machines and monitors to keep her alive.
You got to enjoy their first week, introducing your baby to family and friends;
We were introduced to cardiologists, consultants and specialists.
You got to walk your baby in their pram;
We walked our baby into her first heart surgery.
You rocked your baby to sleep;
We held our baby down, whilst she was put to sleep in theatre.
You got to prep bottles and feed your baby;
We have a tube that feeds ours.
The journey of a parent living in a hospital, watching their child go through this, is something no-one can understand unless they themselves are living it, or have lived it.
You can feel such a disconnect from ‘normal life’ but I’m so grateful to all those who have supported us in their own ways since the beginning, and still walk with us on this journey.
This poem was written by Emma while she was in hospital with her 9-week-old heart baby. It first appeared on Instagram.
Find information and support for heart parents here.
