One year ago, Lachie Macdonald (5) received life-saving cardiac surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow (RHC).
Today, his mum, Jacqueline MacDonald (38) from the Western Isles celebrated the anniversary of his surgery by completing a 310-mile running challenge, the distance from her home in Great Bernera to the RHC.
The mum of two has been clocking up the miles since 12 March, the first anniversary of Lachie’s operation and has been running 40 miles a week around her home. Today she completed the last 10 miles in Glasgow, finishing at entrance of the hospital.
She was met with cheers of congratulations and joy from her family – including Lachie!
Lachie was diagnosed with atrial septal defect (ASD) when he was just three months old The congenital heart defect causes a hole in the septum that separates the two chambers of the heart and interferes with the blood flow to the lungs.
Jacqueline, a chemotherapy nurse, said it was a terrifying time for the family, including husband Chris, Stornoway Port’s harbour master, and their eldest son Hamish, seven.
They were told that Lachie would need surgery: “The bigger he got and more boisterous he became we wanted to wrap him in cotton wool, which is so hard for a little boy finding his feet,” she says.
Three years and many appointments later, during which time the family had to travel up and down to Glasgow, Jacqueline and Chris were told that the hole in Lachie’s heart had grown and open-heart surgery was needed.
Jacqueline adds: “He was put on a waiting list, and we were told he may be called last minute for his operation. From then on, it was nerve wracking every time my phone went.”
When the call finally came, the family were on the first flight to Glasgow for Lachie to have his operation.
Jacqueline continues: “The next two weeks were something I would not wish on any parent. I’m a nurse with 15 years of experience and it all meant nothing. I was on the other side and felt completely helpless. But the care that Lachie received from the hospital staff was amazing. From all the theatre staff to the domestics who came in to make him smile every day.”
A year on, and Lachie is transformed, says his mum: “The energy he has now compared to before his operation is unreal. He is like a wee pocket rocket and full of mischief; just the way we want him to be!”
Jacqueline added: “I was terrified of doing this, but if my wee boy can go through all he’s been through like the superhero that he is, then I thought, ‘I can run for a few miles’.”
Jacqueline’s ‘Laps for Lachie’ has helped to raise over £4500 in vital funds for the British Heart Foundation as well as awareness of congenital heart defects and how many families in the Western Isles are affected in the same way.
Local BHF volunteer Laura Campbell said: “We are so incredibly grateful to Jacqueline for her efforts. Lachie is a wonderful little boy and hearing their story was a real eye opener. All the money raised by Jacqueline will help keep families like hers stay together for longer.”
The Scottish Paediatric Cardiac Service (SPCS) is based at the Royal Hospital for Children. Mandy Meechan, Chief Nurse at the RHC said:
“A huge congratulations to Jacqueline on this huge effort. The smiles on everyone’s would have said it all! We also extend our thanks to her for raising further awareness of paediatric heart conditions. We’re glad to hear that Lachie received excellent care from our teams and that he is doing well.”
