Help Jude Hope Find Her Voice

Help Jude Find Her Voice

Our beautiful daughter, Jude Ameirah Hope Mouton, was born on 2 March 2023. During a 4D scan before her birth, doctors noticed swelling on the right side of her heart. We were referred to a cardiologist in Cape Town, where Jude was diagnosed with an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). We were told it would likely close on its own over time.

At six months old, Jude was referred to a cardiologist in Bloemfontein for regular monitoring. During the following six months, doctors discovered that she also had a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) and that neither hole was closing naturally. We were then referred to Dr Sinyangwe at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, where we were told Jude was still too small for open-heart surgery.

Wanting to explore every option, we sought a second opinion from another experienced heart specialist. An angiogram was scheduled, during which doctors discovered that Jude's airway was much smaller than expected, making intubation extremely difficult....