Cheryl's party for Heartlink charity

Cheryl Hibbard feared her son Benjamin would not survive when doctors at King’s Mill Hospital discovered he was born with two of the main arteries in his heart the wrong way around, three hours after his birth in October 2012.

Cheryl said: “He was very poorly when he was born. The condition made him go almost navy blue because he was getting no oxygen into the blood.”

Benjamin was emergency transferred to Glenfield hospital in Leicester where surgeons performed a balloon septostomy which involves making a hole in the heart to let oxygen in.

“If he had not gone to Glenfield that day he would not be here today,” said Cheryl. “It was touch and go for 48 hours.”

Born with the congenital heart defect TGA - transposition of the greater arteries - Benjamin was due to have the switch operation straight away, but a chest infection delayed this for three weeks.

The operation was a success and Benjamin is now three and half, but sadly he had a seizure when he was six days old which caused autism and a sensory processing disorder which affects how he smells and feels textures. As a result he cannot speak and sometimes struggles with strangers.

Cheryl, 39, lives on Walkmill Drive with Benjamin, his brother Samuel, ten, and partner Joe Wain.

The family wants to say thankyou to the Heart Link children’s charity, based at Glenfield hospital, for all their support during Benjamin’s stay.

The charity not only helps provide vital life saving equipment, but also all the bedrooms for the families of children who have to stay in for operations.

Cheryl said: “They provided us with a bedroom so we could stay until he was discharged, as well as hot drinks and things like microwaves and fridges and furniture.

“They try and make it a home from home. At Easter the children get Easter eggs and presents at Christmas.

“They even put together a goodie bag with a teddie bear, a wallet, a mug and a pencil for all the kids who stay in the ward.”

Cheryl has organised a Family Easter Party on Friday, April 1, at the John Godber Centre, from 5pm to 11.30pm.

“We would like to get has many people to come along as possible to have fun and help us raise lots of money!

There will be a DJ, a face painter, a bar, stalls and food. Tickets are £2 per adult and kids are free

If you would like to donate raffle prizes or Easter eggs for the kids please contact Cheryl on Facebook.

You can also donate via justgiving.com/cheryl-hibbard