Toddler Left Brain Damaged and Waiting for Heart Transplant After Devastating Illness
A three-year-old girl who has been living in a hospital for the past 10 months is desperately waiting for a heart transplant after suffering devastating brain damage caused by a serious illness. Aalayah Stewart, from Newarthill near Motherwell, is currently at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, where a mechanical pump, known as a Berlin heart, is performing the function of her failed heart.
Aalayah first fell critically ill in December 2022 when a common virus called RSV attacked her heart. The disease led to a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, a disorder that affects the heart muscles. She was initially placed on a ventilator and connected to an Ecmo machine, which temporarily took over her heart’s function, reported by the Daily Record.
After a period of recovery, Aalayah’s life was turned upside down in March 2024 when she suffered a cardiac arrest while at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow. She was urgently transferred to Freeman Hospital, where doctors fitted her with the Berlin heart.
Her father, Thomas, 42, who has 12 children with his wife Kelly, 40, shared the pain of watching his daughter suffer: “Aalayah’s heart is broken and she needs a new one. She won’t be able to come home until she does. We feel like our hearts are broken too. Our girl is incredible, she performs miracles every day. What she has been through is inspiring to us all.”
The family has been separated for months as Thomas and Kelly swap places each week to be with Aalayah. Thomas recalled the traumatic moment in March 2024: “That week was just the most traumatic time any parent could go through. Seeing Aalayah suffer a cardiac arrest was our worst nightmare. We thought we had lost her.”
Sadly, shortly after the transfer, the family received even more devastating news: “We were given a call at 6am to say that Aalayah had suffered brain damage. We were beyond devastated. She lost the ability to walk and talk. She had to relearn everything.”
Despite the hardship, Aalayah continues to defy the odds and is making remarkable progress. “Thankfully she’s still here and still proving absolutely everyone wrong. We couldn’t be more proud of her,” said Thomas.
To support her recovery, Thomas launched an online appeal to raise funds for a specialized physio machine that costs £38,000. This machine helps Aalayah take her first steps after being unable to walk. Thomas hopes it will also benefit other children like Aalayah in the future, as a thank you to the team at Freeman Hospital.
“Our dream is to see her walk again. This incredible device gives her the best possible chance to do that,” said Thomas. “She absolutely thrives when she is on it.”