We, Tracey and Jean Paul, are the parents of Baby Matteo and we have decided to set up this foundation to help other families that have to leave everything behind and struggle to give their babies an opportunity to live. We want to share our experience with you so we try to ease and help who is going through our same experience.
Baby Matteo was born at Matei Dei Hospital in Malta on the 18th December 2021 as a T21 baby and having a large Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD). This required an open-heart surgery that never materialized due to the fact that once we made it to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London he was diagnosed with extensive blood clots. Finally, Baby Matteo fell asleep forever on the 2nd of March 2022 in London.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder. It is also called trisomy 21 (T21). It includes certain birth defects, learning problems, and facial features. A child with Down syndrome also may have heart defects and problems with vision and hearing. How severe or mild these problems are varies from child to child. Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic birth defects. It affects about 1 in 800 babies. Adults with Down syndrome may live about 60 years, but this can vary.
An atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a heart defect in which there are holes between the chambers of the right and left sides of the heart, and the valves that control the flow of blood between these chambers may not be formed correctly.
If you need any help and support especially if you have just found out that you are having a down syndrome baby, or you are travelling to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London please feel free to contact us. We would be grateful to try and help you.
Tracey +356 79551799 & Jean Paul +356 99205885
