Freddie’s ‘rough’ start shines a light on brave battle of ‘heart kids’

One in 100 kids every day are born with a congenital heart problem. On ‘Sweetheart Day’, kids and families raise awareness for this all too common condition

When Freddie Clark was born over the Anzac Day long weekend nearly two years ago, no one anticipated the battles that lay ahead for him and his parents, Amy and Sam.

But like one in 100 children born in Australia, Freddie was born with a congenital heart condition and after just one cuddle with mum the tiny infant was whisked off to Westmead Hospital for open-heart surgery.

“It was a totally normal pregnancy, nothing to be concerned about, and then he was taken to special care and the doctors said they had concerns and he was transferred to Westmead,” says mum Amy Clark.

“Essentially his heart was plumbed wrong,” is how Amy explains Freddie’s condition.

“He had a rough go, hit every roadblock, and there was sepsis and chest infections and he had to have four additional surgeries.”

HeartKids Ambassador Freddie Clarke with his mother Amy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

Today, Freddie is a happy toddler who loves cruising furniture, cuddles, and his big brother Sonny.

Freddie and his family are ambassadors for HeartKids, an Australia-wide charity that supports children and families like theirs with support, advocacy, and information, and who mark every Valentine’s Day as Sweetheart Day to raise awareness of the condition.

They have also developing new national standards of care for the medical profession to ensure those suffering from heart disease get the care possible.

“Heartkids supported us htourhg the journey with knowledge and resources and advocacy and care hampers, and helped us connect with other parents in the same situation.”

“They made a phenomenal difference for us,” she says.

HeartKids CEO Lesley Jordan says, “Sweetheart Day Is really a day to shine a light on those who are impacted by these conditions.”

“The demand for our services is increasing significantly,” she says, adding the charity is looking to support co-ordinators in major hospital hubs across the country.

For more: Sweetheartday.org.au

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