The Trollip's Tale

Apr 4, 2018
4 min read

Please tell your wife and family thank you, because there’s many hours you’ve had to be away from them to save my child. Thank you for your commitment, dedication and confidence in doing the impossible.

Jaden Trollip arrived six years ago to his excited first-time expectant parents who had sailed through pregnancy unaware of the defect his heart had developed with. He arrived grey and uninterested in feeding, and remained this way for five weeks until he was finally diagnosed with Tricuspid Atresia by paediatric cardiologist, Dr Greenwood Sinyangwe. The diagnoses rushed the Trollip’s off to Netcare Sunninghill Hospital where they arrived completely unprepared and in shock. “I arrived at Sunninghill [hospital] with just about nothing…” heart-mom, Caitlin Trollip shares, “we were told ‘If your son doesn’t have surgery, he is not going to survive the next month’. I just fell to the floor. It was horrible.” 5 week old Jaden was booked in for surgery the following day.

Excuse me for staring at your hands, but they helped perform a miracle.

Tricuspid Atresia (TA) affects around one of every 10 000 babies born each year. An incredibly rare congenital heart defect (CHD) that demands immediate attention and intervention. The absence of the tricuspid valve between the heart's right upper and lower chambers means that blood cannot escape the heart as it should, causing those affected to “drown in their own blood”. Dr Erich Schürmann performed the first stint, a pulmonary band procedure, on a 3-kilogram Jaden. It formed as the first of a three stage set rectification surgeries and at 6 months, he went into theatre for his Glenn Shunt procedure. Cardiac surgeon, Dr Hendrick Mamorare was booked to perform the final stage of his surgeries, a Fontan procedure, which took place almost one year ago.

“It was just before he turned 7 months that we landed back at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital…” shares Caitlin. Jaden had contracted septicemia. He was rushed into theatre with Dr Mamorare after his scar had opened, giving way for puss to leave his little body. “We later learned that the septicemia had spread to the breast bone and Jaden was back on the ventilator,” the trauma and stress their little heart warrior has caused them evident, "Dr Mamorare was absolutely amazing,” says Caitlin, in awe of the gift he has given her - her little boy, “I can’t fault that man on anything! He even prescribed an easter egg on Jaden’s script when he was discharged.”

Me saying that I trust you is a bit of an understatement. Thank you for letting me trust you with my most precious possession.

Team Trollip moved in to Netcare Sunninghill Hospital the night before their son was due to for his Fontan procedure. Dr Mamorare explained the operational procedures using Jaden’s crayons, which put the heart-warrior team at ease. Jaden was in and out of hospital within 13 days of arriving and it was then that Caitlin realized "this is it, my son is going to be Okay”. The quality of life Jaden's array of surgeons and cardiac specialists have given him is evident in the progress he has made. It was in March of this year that he was finally strong enough to participate in his school’s athletics day, he has been sick-free for an entire school term and Caitlin confirms that he knows how to throw a tantrum “which is always a good sign that he’s normal and doing well,” says the mom of two.

“It’s not easy being a heart-mom… I’m not going to lie… it’s actually very hard,” Caitlin’s 2 year old little girl felt her absence immensely as she attended to the needs of her one-in-one-hundred little boy and at times wouldn’t see her husband for days on end. “It’s a lot for a family to go through… it is very traumatic. And you can either use it to make or break you.” Caitlin recalls the times she had to hold her little brave-heart warrior down for anaesthesia and drawing of blood, how Jaden would cry as ICU visiting hours drew to a close and how she felt helpless at seeing her child so ill. “Just being separated from my children - both of them - was traumatic on it’s own.”

The other side of their experience holds dear their many deep friendships their little CHD affected boy was cause of, which offered an unique understanding along the way and eventually formed as part of the families support system. “We met so many different people; different heart-moms and dads - I’ve made friends because of children with CHDs. In that sense it has been an amazing experience”.

Surgeon, you did a work of art on my son’s precious little body.

To the Trollip’s, their little boys scar reminds them of many things: that life is short and worth living; here to be enjoyed. “Jaden has changed my whole perspective on life… I am even a better teacher to my students because of it,” admits a completely grateful Caitlin.

“Your child is way more resilient than what we give them credit for,” beams Caitlin as she thinks back to what it was like waiting-out theatre hours and ICU stays. “A good support structure is essential; friends and family… and just don’t think negatively - positive thinking!” she recalls as the question arises about advice, “don’t ever say what if”.

“I just can’t say thank you enough”.