Harry's Story
From the moment he arrived into the world on 13th October, 2016, Harry has not faced an easy path. Born with a congenital heart defect called tricuspid atresia, Harry’s life took a very different path than most children, and it began immediately.
Shortly after his birth at the Coombe Hospital, Harry was rushed to Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin. His condition, in which the tricuspid valve isn’t formed between the two right heart chambers, required urgent and complex intervention. What was originally expected to involve three open-heart surgeries, quickly escalated into a far more difficult and unpredictable journey for Harry, one filled with numerous procedures, medical complications, infections, and more than one life-threatening moment.
Harry’s first open-heart surgery was planned for shortly after his birth, but due to his low weight and fragile condition, it had to be postponed. In December 2016, when most families were preparing to celebrate Christmas, Harry’s parents Leanne and Keith were facing the unthinkable, their tiny son was placed on life support the week of Christmas.
It was an emotionally devastating time for the family. At home, they had four other children at the time and tried to maintain a sense of normalcy for them while spending as much time as possible at the hospital with Harry. After months of setbacks, sleepless nights, and worry, they were finally able to bring Harry home in February 2017.
But their relief was short-lived. Harry was due for another major surgery in April, and in the weeks leading up to it, the family was back in Crumlin hospital frequently for regular check-ups. That year, Harry spent the majority of it in and out of hospital. Every parent’s worst nightmare.
From that point on, Harry’s journey became a series of intense highs and lows. The planned surgeries continued, but infection after infection meant extended hospital stays, time away from his siblings, and long periods without the kind of childhood every parent hopes their child will have.
Harry has six siblings now, and to manage family life alongside hospital visits was never easy. Leanne recalls how difficult it was to juggle everything from hospital stays that lasted weeks longer than expected, to keeping life as normal as possible for the other kids at home. “You’re constantly preparing yourself for the unknown. Just when you think things are settling, something else happens. That’s probably been the hardest part.” Leanne explains.
But at the Children’s Heart Centre in Crumlin, the staff have been amazing to little Harry. One nurse, Nicky, became a particularly important person in Harry’s life. She cared for him during some of his sickest times on the day ward, and even now, he’s always delighted to see her. Nurses Kathleen and Jackie are also names that still bring a smile to Harry’s face, along with his surgeon Jonathan McGuinness. And of course, none of Harry’s journey would have been possible without his consultant, Professor Damien Kenny, who has been there from the very beginning.
The catering staff and cleaners also left a mark on Harry, often singing, laughing, and helping to lift the spirits of both patients and families during dark days.
Despite everything, Harry remains a bright, funny little boy “He’s so caught up Minecraft, it’s his favourite thing, and he loves playing Roblox” says Leanne.
Harry didn’t start pre-school until he was four, having to wait until after a major surgery before settling into any kind of routine. The absence of normal childhood experiences has been very hard. Harry deals with anxiety, something that has stayed with him after everything he’s been through. In 2024, when Harry was six, he underwent another major surgery. Once again, he came through. Harry recovered well and continues to be monitored with regular check-ups.
Looking back, Leanne is quick to highlight the people who have made this journey bearable; the nurses, doctors and catering staff, all of whom “go above and beyond.” Harry still attends Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin for ongoing care, but thanks to the care he’s received and the strength of his family, Harry continues to remain resilient and strong no matter what challenge he faces.