New mum faces major surgery to treat heart condition which has devastated family

Amy Ellis, 19, from Allerton, has spoken of her distressing ordeal in what marks another difficult chapter for those close to her.

Nearly 20 years ago, the Telegraph & Argus reported on Amy’s auntie, Faith, who died one year after a heart transplant gave her the chance of a new life.

Faith, who was only 20, was perfectly healthy until giving birth to her son, Brandon, in 2001, when she fell ill. Doctors initially put her weakness down to the stresses of childbirth.

But after further tests at Bradford Royal Infirmary she was transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, where her father, John, who passed away 15 years ago, had his own transplant in 1992.

She was in and out of hospital with slight rejections and infections following the transplant, but had to be admitted to Wythenshawe when a heart biopsy showed a severe rejection and she tragically died.

Many of Faith’s family have the same condition - dilated cardiomyopathy - and last year her son had to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) fitted at Wythenshawe after falling seriously ill.

An LVAD is a kind of artificial heart pump used to treat people with severe heart failure. Having one is a big operation and involves open heart surgery, something Amy now also faces.

She was due to be transferred to Wythenshaw Hospital yesterday.

Her ordeal began while she was pregnant earlier this year, when she was told that her heart was “really struggling”.

Baby Ivy

Amy said: “I got referred to Leeds hospital and after my appointments there, they informed me that my heart was only working at 30 per cent.

“It wasn’t getting any better and because of being pregnant it was just getting worse, I had to rest my whole pregnancy, I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t really travel in cars, couldn’t walk or anything. 

“It was really hard, I couldn’t enjoy hardly any of my pregnancy as I was constantly worried through the whole thing.”

She added: “At 30 weeks’ pregnant I had an appointment with my cardiologist in Leeds and they told me at 32 weeks I would have to be admitted into Leeds General Infirmary for the rest of my pregnancy as it was too dangerous for me to be at home.”

Amy was then told she would need to have a pacemaker fitted after having her baby.

“As my stay in hospital progressed I just got worse, things weren’t getting better for me, my heart was in a bad way,” she said.

Her baby girl was due to be delivered via c-section on June 21, but on June 17 Amy was told by doctors that they did not want to risk her going over the weekend as her body couldn’t take being pregnant any longer.

Her daughter, Ivy Rae, was born the following day and it was then time for Amy to have her pacemaker fitted.

Amy, her mum and Ivy

Amy said: “When me and Ivy were finally allowed home together, everything was going great - she was growing so fast, I was loving every second of it, but then for some reason I started to feel really poorly around six weeks after having her.”

She was unable to eat or keep food down, could barely drink water and was sleeping all day. At first, it was thought she had blood clots, but she then received the awful news that her heart had started to fail and she would more than likely need either an LVAD or a heart transplant.

Amy said it has been a difficult year, but said family have helped her through it.

Little Ivy, who Amy misses “more than anything” is being looked after by her boyfriend, Charlie, who has given up his job to take care of her. 

Amy and Ivy

She said: “It’s amazing what he’s done.”

Amy’s mum Candy, Faith’s sister and who was by Brandon’s side last year as he faced his own health battle, said: “It’s beyond anyone’s worse nightmare. 

"The whole family struggles through it all.”

Amy added: “I couldn’t have a better support network around me and I thank everyone for that.

“I have all high hopes I make it through this mess for my family, my daughter and my new life.

“It’s been scary and it’s going to get scarier, but I’ll get through it, just like my cousin did.”