Transplant boy home for new year

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tees/8436487.stm

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A six-month-old Middlesbrough boy born with a rare heart condition has returned home after a transplant.

Ted Parks had arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease, and doctors feared he would die unless a donor heart was found quickly.

He was given the operation in early December and is going home early after a quicker than anticipated recovery.

His parents Kay Husband and Stephen Parks, of the Normanby area, described Ted as "brave and courageous".

Ms Husband said: "We are absolutely over the moon and did not expect it this soon, but he is definitely ready to come home.

Doctors found problems with Ted's heartbeat shortly after his birth

"We've got Ted back now and we have never seen him with so much colour in his face and he looks so happy."

Doctors detected irregularities with Ted's heartbeat after his birth at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough in June.

His condition worsened in October and he was then fitted with a Berlin-heart, a device which helps pump blood to the lungs and body, after being airlifted to Newcastle Freeman Hospital.

Nurses at the hospital nick-named him "Super Ted" during his fight for life.

Cardiologist Dr Richard Kirk said: "Ted is looking very good and we are very pleased that is going to go home much earlier than anticipated.

"It is amazing how quickly these children bounce back. Once you get the heart working well they are in their starting blocks and they are off."