An Australian mother has issued a stern warning to other parents after what her daughter had believed to be a stubborn case of constipation turned out to be a serious heart condition.
Four years ago, Sydney mum Leah took her eight-year-old daughter Jada to the doctors after she suspected her daughter had a bad case of constipation.
But within days her eight-year-old was in an intensive care unit, in dire need of a new heart.
Leah told 7News upon reflection she couldn't believe she missed the symptoms and is now urging other parents to "never think it's nothing".
It began when young Jada's stomach began to swell and she was always napping, something Leah put down to Jada being the "baby of the family".
When the Australian mum decided it was time for Jada to go to the doctors, her GP confirmed her suspicion and prescribed medication to help, they also wrote out a referral for an ultrasound if things didn't change.
Leah and Jada returned home, but three days later the eight-year-old's belly was still swollen.
The mother told 7News her worry began to grow and decided to book the earliest ultrasound possible.
Two days followed and Leah took Jada for the ultrasound, and she remembers when they arrived the "technician just went white".
"He said to go back to our GP right away - it was 5pm, the doctor was closed, but the technician just told us they would stay open for us," she said.
Leah drove back to her GP not aware of what was about to unfold.
Her GP read the ultrasound report which revealed Jada's organs were enlarged.
The mum and daughter returned to the children's hospital where Jada was soon surrounded by heart and liver specialists - where they worked to determine which organ needed the most attention.
Five litres of fluid was released from the girl's abdomen.
A couple of days later, Leah went to a doctor's appointment where she was told Jada has restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) and needed a heart transplant.
RCM is a condition where the chambers of the heart become stiff over time.
Leah said the following months were tormenting for the family as they waited at home for a donor to save Jada's life.
Six months later, they received the call an organ was available in Melbourne and jumped on the next available flight.
The surgery was a success and Jada spent two months in Melbourne before they were able to fly home.
She had to attend regular checkups to ensure she wasn't experiencing organ rejection, which Leah said made her feel anxious and experience post-traumatic stress disorder.
The family was introduced to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and with their help they made Jada's wish come true - owning a pet cat.
Now at 12 years old she has had her last appointment and has been given the all-clear.
She told the outlet she is grateful for the donations to Make-A-Wish and most of all to the person and their family who gave her the gift of life - her new heart.
