Townsville toddler’s brave journey: Overcoming life-threatening heart condition

Looking at little Tayan today, you’d see a joyful, energetic toddler, but the scar down his chest serves as a reminder of the two lifesaving heart surgeries he endured before his first birthday.

Tayan Brush, 1. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Looking at little Tayan today, you’d see a joyful, energetic toddler, full of life and happiness.

However, the scar down his chest is a reminder of the extraordinary challenges he has faced — two lifesaving heart surgeries before his first birthday.

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital defect that leaves the left side of the heart too underdeveloped to support normal circulation, Tayan spent his first 143 days in and out of the hospital.

“The left side of the heart does not meet to the apex, so the pumping chamber wouldn’t have been enough to keep him alive,” explained his mother, Katrina Brush.

Katrina learned of her son’s heart condition during pregnancy, after a fetal echo at 28 weeks.

Faced with the heartbreaking choice of terminating the pregnancy or pursuing palliative care, she refused to give up.

“He‘s our rainbow baby, so I wasn’t giving up on him, and now he’s also our heart warrior,” she said.

Determined to give her son a fighting chance, Katrina sought a second opinion and travelled to Brisbane to consult with a pediatric cardiologist.

Katrina, Jason, and Tayan, 1, Brush. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Tayan was born on July 11 last year, and just six days later, he underwent his first surgery, the Norwood procedure, to improve blood flow.

At four months old, he had a second surgery to further correct his heart’s circulation.

Throughout this difficult journey, HeartKids, a charity supporting children with congenital heart disease, provided vital emotional and practical support.

Katrina recalls breaking down when her husband had to return to Townsville, but HeartKids was there to help.

“I had the support co-ordinator at the hospital in Brisbane,” she said. “She was amazing. I could go to the parents’ room and cry on her shoulder constantly.”

On December 5, nearly six months after his birth, Tayan was finally strong enough to return home to Townsville with his family.

“It was great to come home so everybody could start meeting him — his brother, his sister,” Katrina said.

Jason, Katrina, and Tayan, 1, Brush. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Though Tayan is thriving now, his journey isn’t over yet. He is expected to undergo a third surgery, the Fontan procedure, between the ages of 3 and 5.

In the meantime, the Brush family is dedicated to raising awareness about congenital heart disease and giving back to the community.

On Sunday, October 13, they will participate in the Two Feet and A Heartbeat Walk in Townsville, organised by HeartKids to raise funds for children and families affected by heart conditions. “My family is coming from six hours away to walk with us, including my mother, who’s in a mobility scooter,” Katrina said.

“HeartKids has done so much for us, and this is our way of giving back.”

The walk will take place at Riverway in Thuringowa Central, with participants gathering from 3pm for a 4pm start.

The event will also feature family-friendly activities, including free face painting, a barbecue, and games.

Originally published as Townsville toddler’s brave journey: Overcoming life-threatening heart condition