Doctors Said No Hope for Dorothea, a Baby with Half a Heart—But What Happened Next Will Astonish You!

When Rob Velez, 50, and Zofia Fenrych, 41, learned that their unborn daughter, Dorothea, had hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) at a 16-week scan, their world shattered. HLHS is a life-threatening condition where the left side of the heart fails to develop, and the doctors gave their baby “no chance of survival.” The couple was devastated, but they refused to let the grim diagnosis define their daughter’s future.

In those early days of uncertainty, Rob and Zofia were given little hope. They were told Dorothea would need an in-utero surgery in Texas to stand a fighting chance — a procedure costing a staggering £2.5 million. Desperate, they began fundraising, but time was not on their side. They raised only £45,000, and the surgery was no longer an option. As the pregnancy progressed, they reached out to Royal Brompton Hospital in London, where a team of courageous doctors agreed to operate when Dorothea was born.

When Dorothea was born on June 7, 2022, weighing just 2lb 7oz, her parents were ready to fight for her life. But even with the surgery scheduled for seven days after birth, the medical team initially told them the procedure might not go ahead. Dorothea’s heart was so weak, they feared she wouldn’t survive the operation. But Rob and Zofia couldn’t give up on their daughter. “We begged the doctors to try. We couldn’t lose her without a fight,” Rob recalls.

The surgery, a delicate 11-hour procedure to reconstruct her heart, was nothing short of groundbreaking. But the battle wasn’t over. Just hours after the surgery, Dorothea went into cardiac arrest. Doctors performed CPR for over an hour, but Dorothea defied the odds, holding on to life. “It was terrifying, but somehow, she clung to life,” Zofia says, her voice thick with emotion.

For weeks, Dorothea fought in intensive care. Her chest cavity was left open, and she was hooked to an ECMO machine, a life-saving device that acts as an artificial heart. Slowly but surely, she began to regain strength. By August 26, 2022, just two months after her birth, Dorothea was off the ventilator and thriving. Her parents could hardly believe their eyes when they saw her slowly but surely come back to life.

Despite all the setbacks, Dorothea’s journey is a testament to the power of love, faith, and the unwavering commitment of her parents. “She’s our miracle,” Rob says with a tearful smile. “We’ve been through so much, but now we have our amazing little girl.”

Zofia adds, “Seeing her here, growing stronger every day, has made it all worth it. The doctors saved her life, but she gave us the biggest gift — the gift of hope. We’ll never stop believing in her.”

As Dorothea continues to grow and thrive, her parents remain hopeful for the future. There’s still another surgery ahead, but they’ve never been more determined. They know they have a long road ahead, but their daughter’s survival has shown them the impossible is possible.

Dorothea’s journey has inspired everyone who has been part of her story. The doctors, the nurses, and the extended family that rallied behind the couple — all of them marveled at Dorothea’s incredible will to live. “Royal Brompton did what no other hospital dared to do, and we’re forever grateful,” Zofia says.

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The story of Dorothea’s survival, from being diagnosed with a heart condition that most babies don’t survive, to overcoming a cardiac arrest and thriving, is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. It is a testament to the resilience of both parents and children, and a shining example of the miracles that love, hope, and perseverance can bring.

Never give up hope. Dorothea didn’t. And neither should you!