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LIFE SAVING SURGERY FOR BABY ISABEL

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Corry Granger / 2010-03-06 11:40:01

The parents of a baby born in Spain with Downs Syndrome and several holes in her heart are celebrating the success of life-saving surgery following a battle with health authorities.

Isabel Davies Atherton was born in September last year, when the law allowing health care was being withdrawn from British citizens in the Valencia region of Spain. She was delivered at Torrevieja Hospital by emergency Caesarean section, weighing just over six pounds (2.785kg). Her father Blue was then told that it was suspected that Isabel had Down’s syndrome.

Alison, Isabel’s mother, had taken out a Prestige Healthcare Plan for herself, with previous medical history disregarded, and the couple also had European EHIC cards. They were invited to join the Spanish free health scheme on a visit to the Town Hall in the Orihuela Costa where they live, so felt that they had covered their options.

‘We knew we were going to try for children so we bought this particular plan, which included £4,000 a year for routine pregnancy and childbirth cover,’ said Alison. ‘We also knew that any babies we might have could be added from birth with the same beneficial underwriting terms.’

Under a law passed in 2003 people living in the Valencia region were enticed to the area with the promise of free health cover. However, the law has recently been overturned, with ex-pats who are not in receipt of a UK state pension informed that they must pay for health care, with a scheme backed by private insurers costing 270 euros a quarter per person including children.

Alison and Blue live on income from rental on properties owned in the UK, paying income tax in England as well as in Spain. When Alison became pregnant after two miscarriages she and Blue were confident that mother and baby would have every care afforded to a new family. However, when Isabel was born they found that their troubles had only just begun.

Isabel was diagnosed with a hole in the heart as well as being suspected of having Down’s syndrome. The paediatric cardiologist, Dr Izquierdo, told the couple that there was a chance that it might close by itself over time, and prescribed medication in the meantime to help regulate her blood pressure.

The couple, who live in Playa Flamenca,  were allowed to take Isabel home after a blood test was ordered - a chromosome count to confirm Down’s syndrome - and her heart medication dosage had been set. They then tried to obtain the results of the blood test, so that her diagnosis could be confirmed and they could pursue the necessary therapy for Isabel.

‘We asked for the results at the doctor’s three times, and chased it up with Torrevieja hospital’ said Alison. ‘We could have been starting treatment for her, as early intervention can make a huge difference to the long term development of babies with Down’s syndrome.’

Alison contacted PUMA22, a group set up to fight for the reinstatement of health care, and founder member Mr Bill Bridges spoke to staff at the British Consulate. Mr Martyn Standing for the Department of Health, Work and Pensions in Alicante, contacted Alison and told her that Isabel’s SIP card did entitle her to full medical assistance. He also contacted the Downs Association of Spain on their behalf.

Isabel was then referred via Social Services for physiotherapy three times a week in Orihuela. Then a further ECG in January revealed two further holes in her heart. This new development meant that Isabel required specialist open-heart surgery in Valencia fairly urgently, and the procedure was duly booked to go ahead two weeks later.

Unfortunately the operation was then cancelled only five days before it was due to take place, after Isabel’s parents were told that her SIP card was not properly accredited. Alison then approached her private insurers, AXA PPP, who agreed to cover the cost of the operation.

Isabel was admitted to the Casa de Salud hospital in Valencia on February 9, and underwent open-heart surgery two days later. During the two hours in surgery three holes in Isabel’s heart were repaired along with a faulty valve, which was detected the day before the operation during a final ECG.
 
She then spent four days in the paediatric intensive care unit, before being allowed to go home on February 17 with 25 staples in her chest plus stitches.

‘She looked like she had been fitted with a zipper,’ said Alison. ‘They allowed us to go home early as Isabel was making such a great recovery, and her brother Josh was over from the UK for a week to meet his little sister.’
 
On February 22 Isabel had her staples and stitches removed at Torrevieja Hospital. Her paediatrician said she was making excellent progress on February 25 when Isabel was taken to the hospital for a post-operative check. She will be examined again in May.
 
‘Isabel will need to have an ECG with a paediatric cardiologist in the next few weeks though, just to be safe,’ said Alison. ‘I can't describe what a relief it is to have got through this with our gorgeous baby daughter still intact. There should be no stopping her now! She has been so brave, and we feel really lucky to have such a terrific little girl.’

Alison pays £235 a month for private health care for herself and Isabel with AXA PPP, while Blue’s insurance with ASSSA had to be cancelled from January 1, as the family are unable to afford private health cover for all three of them at this time.

For more information and advice visit puma22.org.