No one should go to a scan during pregnancy and come home with fear rather than smiles and joy.

When we were told that something didn’t look right with Arya’s heart, I felt like I was falling into a dark abyss. It was at my 20-week scan, and after that we were placed under the care of the Evelina Hospital - and after Arya was born, the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals.

I will never forget Dr Laura Vasquez-Garcia’s drawings to help me understand what a Double Aortic Arch was. I will never forget Dr Andres Rico-Armada’s words when he told me the surgery date - when Arya was just 4 months old: “Anna, it has to be done. We do this kind of surgery every day.” And I will never forget Dr Nuri’s call from the operating theatre as soon as the operation was finished - using his own phone to let us know she was okay.

I am walking 140 miles for them, and for Chantal, Filomena, and all the other nurses. For all the staff.

Supporting them means supporting families like mine who need light in a dark tunnel, who need guidance when the time comes to make difficult decisions.

For all the mothers and fathers we met along the way, and for their children.

For Arya’s smile. For each and every milestone she is hitting brilliantly.

Every penny matters. Every link share can help.

Annalibera - Arya’s mum