Willow Bell’s family to tackle Run for the Kids

A Curlewis mum who revived her infant daughter after a cardiac arrest says the ordeal was her “worst nightmare”.

Curlewis couple Michael and Kimberley Bell with baby Willow. Picture: Alan Barber

A Curlewis mum who revived her infant daughter after a cardiac arrest says the ordeal was her “worst nightmare”.

Kimberley and Michael Bell welcomed baby Willow, conceived via IVF, last year in May.

“It took us four years to get pregnant … we’d wanted this for so long,” Mrs Bell said.

While in utero Willow was diagnosed with a rare heart defect.

“I was so worried I was going to lose her,” Mrs Bell said.

Willow spent six weeks at the Royal Children’s Hospital after she was born six weeks premature.

She went home and was due to have surgery known as a “cone repair” to improve her heart function in January.

Her condition impacted her circulation, which meant parts of her little body would turn purple.

In the early hours of December 7, Willow was unsettled and her parents were up with the tot, then aged about six-and-half months.

Willow Bell in hospital. Picture: Supplied

“It kind of all happened really quickly, it’s still really hard to process,” Mrs Bell said.

Willow was letting out an “alarming, high-pitched cry”.

While Willow’s parents called an ambulance Mrs Bell, who works as a nurse, found a stethoscope.

Willow’s eyes rolled back and her arms went limp.

“I put the stethoscope to her chest and at that point there was no heartbeat,” Mrs Bell said.

“That’s when I realised she wasn’t breathing and I started CPR.

Curlewis couple Michael and Kimberley Bell are taking part in Run for the Kids. Picture: Alan Barber

“She eventually started to grunt with each compression and breathe again.”

Mrs Bell described the ordeal as “absolutely” the most stressful moment of her life.

She said knowing basic life-support first aid was “so important”.

Willow was taken to Geelong hospital by ambulance to be stabilised before being transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

She spent almost a month at the children’s hospital, including two weeks hooked up to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine, which replaced the function of her lungs and heart.

Willow Bell in hospital with her parents. Picture: Supplied

Willow had three heart procedures, including the “cone repair”, across a marathon period of more than 12 hours on the operating table.

While Willow, now nine months old, may need more surgery down the track, she no longer turns purple and she’s able to keep up with her peers.

“At the moment she’s thriving,” Mrs Bell said.

“She’s the happiest little baby now, she’s completely different.”

Mr and Mrs Bell have previously competed in Run for the Kids, which raises money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, in honour of Mr Bell’s late cousin who received care at the hospital.

This year, the event has even more significance, with Mrs Bell crediting the hospital with saving baby Willow’s life twice – after she was born and after the cardiac arrest.

Mr Bell will tackle the long course, while Mrs Bell will do the shorter option with Willow in a pram.

The event take places in Melbourne on Sunday, March 19.

For more information and to register visit: www.runforthekids.com.au

Originally published as Willow Bell’s family to tackle Run for the Kids