Millie
Millie was born with multiple complex heart problems and spent the first six months of her life receiving specialist care at Alder Hey.
During that time, she underwent four open heart surgeries and nine general anaesthetics, spending much of her stay in intensive care, the high dependency unit, and the cardiac ward.
For her parents, Ella and Nathan, it was an incredibly difficult time. Alongside the uncertainty surrounding Millie’s health, they were balancing being by her bedside with caring for her older siblings, Isabella, Evie and George.
Following Millie’s third open heart surgery, Millie became seriously ill and needed intensive care. As her parents waited for signs of improvement, the doctors and nurses supported them through some of their hardest moments.
Throughout her stay, the team recognised that caring for Millie also meant supporting the people who loved her. Small, thoughtful gestures helped her siblings feel welcome and connected to their baby sister, while time spent playing together around her bed gave the family precious moments of normality.
Ella remembers the kindness shown to all four children, from nurses arranging arts and crafts for the older siblings to finding ways to make them smile during visits. These moments brought comfort during a long hospital stay and created memories the family still cherish.
After months of treatment and recovery, Millie was finally able to return home. Today, she is thriving alongside her siblings, and her family remain deeply grateful for the expertise and compassion of the Alder Hey team.
“Until this happened to our family, we never realised how difficult it is having such a poorly child but one thing we learnt is the kindness of strangers, and we really did feel so loved and supported by everyone at Alder Hey, and we still do.” Ella, Millie’s mum.