SOPHIA JADE WILLIAMS

Sophia Jade Williams was born 28 January 2006 the first child of John and Louisa Williams. She was a normal, healthy, beautiful little girl and developed well throughout the first 9 months of her life, bringing lots of love and laughter to her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

In the early hours of the morning on 10th November 2006 and without warning she suffered a cardiac arrest. Her aunty at the scene was able to perform CPR until the paramedics arrived. The triage team at Hereford County Hospital managed to stabilize Sophia and she was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Intensive Care Unit. She was kept on life support for several days and then made steady progress enough to be transferred to the cardiac ward. During the next 2 weeks several tests were carried out to determine the cause of the problem, however nothing could be detected. Sophia was allowed home on 28th November. Her family’s joy was turned to concern just 2 days later when she suffered another cardiac arrest; they wondered how much strain could her little heart take.

Once again she was transferred from the Hereford County hospital to Birmingham Children’s hospital intensive care and was on life support for a couple of days. On the cardiac ward more in-depth tests were taken, Sophia spent her first Christmas there, and she finally returned home just before the New Year celebrations.

It was never really detemined what caused these cardiac arrests, but was felt that it was to do with the electronics of the heart. She was put on medication to slow down the heart rate and Sophia’s parents were given a defibrillator to carry around wherever Sophia went just incase of another attack.

For the next 14 months Sophia made excellent progress, she loved life and was a tonic to be with. Her lovely smile was enough to melt anyone’s heart. To look at her you wouldn’t know that there was a problem.

On 2nd March 2008 Sophia passed away. She suffered another cardiac arrest but was unable to fight any longer.

Sophia’s family remains ever grateful to the efforts of doctors and nursing staff here in Hereford and at Birmingham Children’s hospital. There are many babies and children suffering from various heart diseases and disorders. Donations to the Young at Heart charity would be greatly appreciated to enable them to carry on the good work that they do.