Grace, who is nearly two, was born with four undiagnosed heart defects which had starved half her body of oxygen.

At just eight days old she went into cardiac arrest, and doctors told her parents she was unlikely to live past the next six hours.

But she did. And today loves to dance and sing and spend time with her family and those who care for her.
Mum, Jodie, says Brian House helps her family to function through the daily anxiety of having a child who could go into cardiac arrest at any moment.

“It’s a relief to not have that constant worry, knowing that Grace is being cared for in a place that she loves,” she said.

“When Brian House was first mentioned, Grace was nine months old and I was convinced they were telling us Grace was dying. But one of the nurses, Karen, came to see us. She explained that Brian House would give us the time and space we needed to rest while Grace would be cared for. She would be safe, and, importantly, she would have fun.

“Because Grace loves to have fun. Despite her leg splints and the fact she’s still a bit unsteady on her feet, she loves to dance. As soon as you put music on, she’s dancing and singing along.
“Grace adores Brian House. She loves the sensory room and just having one-to-one time with the team there; taking things at her own speed and doing what she wants.

“And her older brother Rowan loves the sibling group he attends. He’s 12 and understands everything we’re facing as a family. It means so much to him to spend time with other children his age who are in a similar position.

“Our family has faced a lot, and it’s not until you talk about it that you realised how much anxiety we are living with and how much of a struggle daily life can be. But thanks to Brian House, we are able to function. I honestly don’t know how we would cope without them!”

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