Boy set to undergo third open heart surgery after having first at just hours old
A brave nine year old boy is getting ready for his third open heart surgery - after having his first at just one-day-old.
Kalem Pounder first had an operation just hours after being born, and he's been amazing his family ever since by fighting his heart condition. Now, he's preparing for another operation in the next few months.
To give Kalem something to look forward to after his tough recovery from surgery, a fundraising campaign has been started to take him and his family to Disneyland Paris so he can meet his hero, Mickey Mouse. His mum, Kaylee Pounder, found out about his serious condition during her 20-week pregnancy scan and was sent to the RVI Hospital.
Kalem was born with an underdeveloped heart, which means he only has three chambers instead of four and one pump instead of two. Doctors also recently discovered that one of his valves has narrowed, making the surgery even more complicated.
On top of his life-limiting heart condition, Kalem also has congenital cataracts, which required surgery, and he is autistic and has ADHD. His upcoming surgery at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle will hopefully improve his quality of life, but he will eventually need a heart transplant.
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Kalem (sitting) enjoying life with his family and at four-weeks-old recovering from his first open heart surgery operation (No credit)Kaylee, 39, explains that her son Kalem is home-schooled due to his complex medical condition. She shared how it impacts every part of his life and even the smallest amount of exercise can cause him to turn pale and his lips to turn blue.
The mum-of-four from West View was heartbroken when she discovered his condition during pregnancy, but she wanted to give him the best chance at life, no matter how small. She told Teeside Live: "He is so lovely, he is bright as a button as well. It is harder now because he is Kalem and I absolutely adore him, I would give my heart to him if I could."
"I try to think positively and push all negative thoughts out of my head. You have to do that or you would have a breakdown."
A fundraiser called 'Give the Kid a Break' will take place at Hartlepool Workmans Club on April 26. Sponsored by Marquee and Sounds Solutions, it will feature groups such as Odin's Revenge and Four Colour Ghosts. The hope is to raise enough money to take Kalem, his mum and dad, Liam Boagey, and his three siblings, Charlie, 15, Gabriel, 12 and ten year old Arianna, to Disneyland Paris.
There will also be an auction on the night with items including a signed pair of boxing gloves from Savannah Marshall and ones from Anthony Joshua.
Kaylee shared how touched she is by the support for her little boy, telling us: "Kalem has a Mickey Mouse he has had since he was born. It goes everywhere with him, it is like part of the family. To see the bairn get to meet Mickey Mouse will be the best day of my life." There's also a GoFundMe page to help out with the fundraising.
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