Pre-natal Support Volunteers

Fran Wintour - Kent

Hello my name is Fran Wintour, I'm 36, married to Matt and have two gorgeous boys, Harry aged 5 and Joseph 4 months old.

When my first son Harry was born, we were overwhelmed with happiness and joy. He looked and was perfect. Our shock came when we took him to our doctor for his 8 week check. We were told Harry had a heart murmur, which we later found out he had a large VSD and would need surgery to repair it. We felt completely numb and our lives were thrown into turmoil.

Harry went on to have successful surgery when he was 6 months and we have never looked back, in fact we couldn't believe how 'normal' he was after everything he had been through, it was amazing.

I felt I wanted to give something back so I decided to become a committee member for Echo. I have met some amazing people through Echo and feel like I have a second family.

My role within Echo is to support other parents of heart children. I am a pre-natel support contact providing telephone support to parents whose unborn child has been diagnosed with a heart defect. I am also the Kent area contact providing telephone support to parents of heart children.

prenatalsupport@echo-evelina.org.uk

Jo Rao - South London

I've been an ECHO committee member and area contact for South London for six years now. My son Kiran was diagnosed antenatally with an AVSD and pulmonary stenosis. We were in and out of hospital during the first year and he had two open heart surgeries in his second year.

Those first few years with him were very tough and there were times when we didn't think he'd make it but he is now a relatively healthy seven year old. We have two other children now so life is very busy. Six years ago I could never have imagined that our life could be this 'normal'. However the fear never goes away and we know that Kiran will need more surgery.

It is a privilege to be involved in such a wonderful organisation as ECHO and to have the opportunity to meet other 'heart families'. Even after all this time there are many families who remain just a name on my list so do get in touch.

south.london@echo-evelina.org.uk