I was born a happy, ‘healthy’ baby. But then, at six weeks old, my parents noticed I was unwell. My lips had started to turn blue, so they took me to the GP, who told my parents to take me to A&E immediately. That is then when they found out I had an atrial septal defect and a ventricular septal defect – two types of holes in my heart.

So, at just six weeks old, I became an outpatient at Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital. Now 29, I still have three yearly check-ups. I have to have an echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram.

At 27, I became pregnant.  The hospital kept an extra eye on my condition, in case the strain on my body proved too much.

At my 20-week ultrasound, the doctors discovered that my unborn child also had a heart condition, but sadly his was a lot more severe – it's called tetralogy of fallot.

This news was absolutely heart-breaking but with the support of the amazing staff at Royal Brompton, I managed to get through it. I learnt as much as I could to prepare myself for what to expect, once my baby was here.

My son, Eddie, began having regular check-ups up until, when he was six months, doctors decided it was time for him to have open-heart surgery.

3 May 2016 was the hardest day I could ever have gone through. I handed my tiny baby over to the surgeons, not knowing whether it would be a success. That surgeon saved my baby’s life. I owe everything to Royal Brompton Hospital, and especially to Professor Hiedeki Uemura.

My son and I have life-long conditions. But knowing that we are under the care of such an amazing hospital gives me so much happiness and hope for our future.

- Leanne Scotchett