Frankston South mum Samantha couldn’t ignore her concerns about her newborn baby. Two-week-old Zara wasn’t eating, wasn’t sleeping, wasn’t gaining weight and wouldn’t settle. Samantha was also concerned about a blue tinge around Zara’s mouth. It was very unlike her previous experience as a new Mum. But her friends and family kept assuring her, “each baby is different.”
After one particularly restless night, Samantha brought Zara to Peninsula University Hospital’s Emergency Department, with the simple hope that they may be able to administer some pain relief.
“When I walked in the doors she went quiet, even though she had just been crying inconsolably. I almost thought ‘she seems fine now, maybe I should take her home’,” Samantha recalls.
On arrival at the Emergency Department, Samantha was immediately directed to the triage nurse, who took Zara from her arms.
“It went from fine to very serious, very quickly,” says Samantha.
In the resuscitation area, while Emergency staff assessed Zara, Samantha learned that her daughter’s heart rate was at 290 beats per minute and going up. A normal heart rate for a 2-week-old infant is typically 100-160 beats per minute on average.
Staff called a Code Blue (Medical Emergency) and had to use the defibrillator to try and return Zara’s heart rate to its normal rhythm.
While Samantha and her family braced for the worst, Zara’s condition was eventually stabilised.
Zara went on to be diagnosed with Tachycardia – a resting heart rate over 160-200 beats per minute in babies.
It took nearly two months in hospital for Zara to recover from the initial, life-threatening episode. However, with the ongoing heart condition, she has presented to the Emergency Department six times since.
“It makes me feel comfortable bringing her there, that they know who she is and she’s looked after so well,” says Samantha. “They know what they’ve got to do.”
Zara is now a typical two-year-old, who loves singing, tutus, and getting dirty in the backyard. She still struggles to sleep, takes medicine three times a day, and must have her heart rate monitored closely – especially if she gets over excited or has any kind of illness or infection. Even though Zara needs ongoing medical intervention, her family is relieved that emergency care is available nearby.
“It’s really good to know that the hospital is close and they’re great with her,” Samantha adds.
This tax time, we’re raising funds for lifesaving equipment in our Paediatric Emergency Department.
