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THE FACT that Thomas Messer will celebrate his first birthday this week is a tribute to his own battling instinct, the skills of surgeons and a supportive family which has grown to include the community in which he lives. His rosey cheeks and winning smile hide the life-or-death drama he and his family have lived through from the minute he was born. "The past 365 days have been the happiest and longest days in our lives," said mum and dad Carol and Peter, Castle Street, Johnshaven. Thomas was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare collection of problems with the left side of the heart that meant it was unable to pump oxygenated blood from the lungs to his body. Mr and Mrs Messer were given the options of not intervening and to support Thomas until he died or seek surgical treatment to re-route the blood through the right side of the heart, bypassing the blockages on the left. "There was no option," said Mr Messer. Thomas was transferred to a hospital in Edinburgh and then to Birmingham where, at the age of two days, he underwent open heart surgery. Last December he returned for a second operation and the third stage of what is a high-risk procedure will be when he is three to five years old. "We don't know what the future holds," said Mr Messer. "We take each

day as it comes. He looks as if there is nothing wrong with him but he gets very breathless if he does anything. The only time you notice a physical difference is in the bath and you see his 'zip' up and down his chest." Thomas has recovered well from his operations and if the surgery is completed successfully there is no reason why he should not go on to develop normally. The family has been deeply touched by the support they have received not "We don't know what the future holds. We take each day as it comes. He looks as if there is nothing wrong with him but he gets very breathless." only from medical staff and other parents in the "Left Heart Matters" support group in Birmingham, but from family, friends and neighbours. Mr and Mrs Messer have special thanks to all the people of Johnshaven and Tannadice. "Nan and grandad who live in Tannadice have been a great support," said Mrs Messer. Prayers have been said for Thomas in the church at Tannadice and in Johnshaven and the family have been particularly touched by the woman they all call "Mrs M". "When people in the village come up

to you and ask about Thomas, their concern brings a lump to your throat and has tears rolling down your face," said Mr Messer. Mum and dad and the rest of their children, Mark, Hannah and Rebecca, have kept family life as normal as possible. They have been told that it is extremely difficult to predict the long term outlook for Thomas. Doctors have warned that he is not out of the woods yet. "They have told us he has jumped the first hurdle." said Mr Messer. Only about 50% of children who undergo surgery will survive all three stages and if they do, they may need a heart transplant in years to come. The good news is that in America children with the same condition who have received surgery as babies are living into their mid-teens and it is hoped they will live on into their twenties. "Five years ago a baby like Thomas would almost certainly have died," said Mrs Messer. "We were told that had the problem been detected during pregnancy we would have been advised to terminate it. "I think Thomas might cause some people in the medical profession to change their minds." Anyone wishing more information about Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome can contact Mr and Mrs Messer on 01561 361141.

Peter and Carol Messer, with Thomas and daughter Hannah.