Family grieve at loss of young son

Oct 22 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A DAD has paid tribute to the medical team who fought to try to save the life of his young son.

18-month-old Jordan Gavin from Broxburn, passed away two weeks ago after undergoing heart surgery at Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.

But his dad Derek (22) said the staff at the hospital could not have done anything more to help Jordan.

Jordan was born with heart condition, tetralogy of fallot, which is the mixing of oxygen-poor blood with the oxygen-rich blood being pumped out of the heart and into the circulatory system of blood vessels.

Derek and his partner Debbie Nelson (19) were told shortly after Jordan was born he would need an operation on his heart within two to three years.

Derek said: “It was decided that he should have his operation because he seemed strong enough.

“So he had open heart surgery and they fixed three holes in his heart and opened up an artery to his lungs which was narrow.

“He was taken back into intensive care at Yorkhill after the operation and seemed to be doing well, but during the night his heart rate went away up.

“Debbie and I were called and by the time we got there, Jordan was in cardiac arrest.

“The consultant went to extraordinary lengths to keep Jordan alive, massaging his heart by hand for an hour and a half.”

Jordan was placed on a life support machine which did the work of his heart in the hope that it would allow the organ to recover.

The youngster was taken off life support 10 days later and appeared to be improving, but a sharp deterioration in his condition prompted doctors to suggest a heart valve replacement operation.

Following the surgery, Jordan was again placed on life support to aid his recovery.

But when he was taken back off the machine, his heart failed again and he had to be resuscitated a second time.

Derek said he and Debbie were told at that stage that the outlook was not good.

And after Jordan being resuscitated once more and failing to respond to his drug treatment, his parents took the heartbreaking decision to take him off his life support.

“By that stage Jordan was in a very bad state,” he said. “His kidneys were shutting down and the adrenaline he was getting was having a detrimental effect.

“They tried him on another drug but within 48 hours his heart was even worse.

“We spoke to the doctors and they told us they had done all they could.

“We had Jordan moved into a side room and he only lasted for about a minute after they took him off his treatment.”

Derek admits he and Debbie are still stunned following their loss.

He said: “I’m definitely still in shock, but one of Jordan’s little friends, Cerys Connor, has also passed away now and in a way it keeps me going to think of them causing mischief in heaven.”

However, Derek said he and Debbie are very grateful for everything medical staff did to help their little boy.

And as a thank you, the couple arranged a collection at Jordan’s funeral in aid of the hospital.

“The hospital were just phenomenal – in particular the cardiac surgeon, Mr Pollok, Dr Chris Kidson and Mr Danton, who went to massive lengths to help,” Derek added.

“A collection was held at the funeral which raised £1000 so I’d like thank everyone who contributed to that.”

TRAGIC LOSS: Jordan Gavin lost his fight for life.