The Daily Populous Tuesday November 5th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by bristolpost.co.uk and submitted by Purple-Win-9790

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This was the moment a young boy survived heart surgery - and started belting out Elton John’s classic song ‘I’m Still Standing’ just an hour after coming round. Little Louis Hood left mum Jodie feeling very emotional as the song let her know the surgery went well, with the youngster’s prognosis looking better every day.

Louis, from Redruth in Cornwall, was effectively born with half a heart and has already undergone three open surgeries - the first when he was just nine days old. Ahead of his fourth birthday this month, the family travelled up to Bristol’s Children’s Hospital for another heart operation, where a stent was put into his pulmonary artery.

Last month, Cornwall Live reported how the Disney-obsessed youngster stole the hearts of people across the Duchy with the family’s appeal to get him to Disneyland Paris sooner rather than later. After the report of his appeal, the target was quickly met, but the next hurdle to overcome was the operation in Bristol late last week.

Mum Jodie said hitting the fundraising target was ‘incredible’, and his operation went well. “His numbers are looking so much better since the drugs he started, and they put a stent in his pulmonary artery,” she said.

“He may yet be a candidate for his fourth open heart surgery, as a high risk candidate. It was a lot more positive than we expected,” she added. “The video is of him an hour after coming up from recovery. He started singing it from the musical Sing on his iPad - it felt really moving. We call him our mountain-mover as he loves to defy the odds.”

The fundraiser was set up in October by Louis’ grandmother Sharon Van Beusekom, who said they want Louis to fulfil his dream of seeing Disneyland.

Louis, his mum Jodie and the family, from the Redruth area of Cornwall, have spent time in and out of hospital, and already this month, Jodie has been undertaking sponsored runs for a foundation set up for a young child called Faith, who suffered from the same condition as Louis but sadly passed away at just 22 months old.

Sharon said that loss, of a child who Louis had grown close to, has reminded the family how precarious Louis’ own situation is.

“As heartbreaking as it is to say, the doctors have prepared us for the possibility that Louis may not have much time left with us," Sharon said. "Whether we have a few months or a few precious years, we’re living with the constant fear of losing him.

“Despite these challenges, Louis is an amazing little boy who has a zest for life and a smile that lights up every room,” she added. “He loves to steal the show and brings joy to everyone who meets him. He’s truly living his life to the fullest in the time he’s been given,” she added.

masteremrald on November 5th, 2024 at 12:52 UTC »

Four open heart surgeries at such a young age is crazy. Amazing to see how he is able to stay positive after all that!

Hayes4prez on November 5th, 2024 at 11:56 UTC »

Pretty tough kid, I hope he’s up playing again soon

ComanderLucky on November 5th, 2024 at 11:28 UTC »

Hehe, seems like a fun kid to be around, props to him and speedy recovery