Barrier Daily Truth

Brave Holly’s a HeartKid

Tuesday, 7th February, 2012

AWARENESS: Sixteen-year-old Holly Magookin has heart disease and would like people to support HeartKids.

By Emily Roberts

Holly Magookin knows more than most the help the HeartKids foundation provides children struggling with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

Two days after she was born Holly was diagnosed with heart disease, or pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD) with collaterals.

Her mother, Kerri Simmons, said Holly has had five open heart operations - the last one being a full repair - and has had 13 cardiac catheterisations.

“During Holly’s last open heart operation, which was before she turned 3, she had a stroke,” Kerri said.

In 2008 Holly had to travel to Melbourne to undergo an operation after her valve wall began closing over.

“She was in theatre for seven hours and lost a lot of blood,” Kerri said.

The operation involved doctors trying to get a sheath into Holly’s heart to fit a stent - a balloon that opens up the valves.

But because Holly’s heart had so much scaring from previous operations, the doctors couldn’t get the stent in.

“When we went back 12 months later, they put two stents in over the top of her valve and now she doesn’t have a valve,” Kerri explained, adding her daughter will have to return to Melbourne for further surgery.

She said Holly, who is now 16, was just like any other teenager except she that got very tired.

“If she goes shopping with her friends, she has to come home and have a rest.

“Sports-wise she is restricted because she doesn’t have the stamina to play.

“She can do whatever she wants, she just can’t keep going for as long.

“Holly hasn’t attempted to get her drivers licence yet, and she will be 17 in 11 days. She needs to have a few lessons with an Occupational Therapist because she can’t turn one way after the stroke, but I think you can only do that in the city.”

Kerri said it was because of Holly and what the HeartKids foundation does that they were trying to promote it and ask people to make a donation during HeartKids Awareness Month.

HeartKids provides support and encouragement to families of children with heart disease, while raising awareness and funding into the causes.

The foundation can assist with information about hospital stays, information on available accommodation, meals, and transport and parking. 

For more information visit www.heartkidsaustralia.org.au