Critically ill girl who needs 'Berlin Heart' given space at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Report by Helen Steel
A critically ill 14-month-old girl who was facing a life threatening wait for a specialist NHS bed has been given a breakthrough chance of survival after a huge fundraising campaign to help her.
Penelope Greathead, who has dilated cardiomyopathy, has been on life support at Leeds Children's Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest last month.
The youngster, from Ravenscar near Scarborough, needs a device known as a Berlin Heart to keep her alive long-term until an organ donor can be found.
But with a shortage of specialist beds available to support the treatment - and with her life support machine reaching the limit of its effectiveness - Penelope's loved ones feared she may die before she could have the procedure.
They launched a bid to raise £120,000 to pay privately for a Berlin Heart, potentially to be fitted abroad.
However, on Monday they received the news that a space had become available at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.
In a post on Facebook, the family said: "This is the only the very beginning of her journey but we now have a plan and hope.
"Thank you so much to all the amazing staff in Leeds Children's Hospital for taking care of our baby."
Despite being diagnosed with her heart condition shortly after she was born, Penelope was otherwise healthy until she suffered a cardiac arrest during a routine medicine change.
Staff at Leeds Children’s Hospital performed 12 minutes of emergency resuscitation and she has been on life support since.
The news that she will now be treated in London came after more than £125,000 was raised in her honour from more than 4,000 donations.
The money will now go to charity.
In a post on the online fundraising page, Penelope's dad Jordan Greathead said: "There are no words that can be used to say how thankful we are to each and every single person who has donated, shared Penelope’s story or sent us messages of support."We also want to use this outlet to express our gratitude to the staff at Leeds Children’s Hospital who have provided the most amazing care to our little girl over the last three weeks."
It is hoped Penelope will have her Berlin Heart fitted by the end of the week, which would allow her loved ones to have close contact with her again.Mum Holly Suff said: "Sometimes when her sedation isn't on point she puts her hands up for us to hold her and we can't right now. So just being able to hold her - that will be unbelievable."The couple hope Penelope's story prompts more people to consider becoming organ donors.Holly said: "Nobody wants to think about the worst case scenario. But it should be in the back of people's minds to see the amazing difference their relatives could make to people's lives."
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