'Everyone expected him to die': Nine-month old baby boy suffered TWENTY FIVE heart attacks in a single day but stunned doctors by bravely fighting back to make a full recovery

  • Theo Fry suffered 30 cardiac arrests and had 17 operations before turning one 
  • He had blood poisoning and his heart also couldn't pump blood around his body 
  • However, Theo fought back after an emergency operation, stunning his doctors 

A nine-month old baby stunned doctors after he survived 25 heart attacks in a single day - believed to be the most ever suffered in 24 hours by one person in the UK.

Theo Fry, now 19 months old, has had 30 cardiac arrests in total and has also been through 17 operations - all before his first birthday.

He was originally rushed to Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool after suffering from blood poisoning with his mother saying that 'everyone expected him to die'.

The baby was eventually diagnosed with an interrupted aortic arch, which meant his heart, which also had two holes in it, couldn't pump blood around his body. 

After seeming to recover following his first operation, Theo returned to hospital where he suffered the repeated heart attacks in January 2017. 

Theo Fry has had 30 cardiac arrests in total and has also been through 17 operations - all before his first birthday

Theo Fry has had 30 cardiac arrests in total and has also been through 17 operations - all before his first birthday

Brave Theo has fought back to health, however, to the astonishment of doctors. 

His terrible ordeal started at just eight days of age in May 2017, with his parents saying that the symptoms came on suddenly. 

Mother Fauve Syers, 30, explained how Theo was suddenly sleepy and alarmingly turned blue and grey.

After ringing an NHS helpline, Theo was taken to Salford Royal Hospital but a team of 40 doctors were left baffled by his condition. 

Pictured with his father Steven Fry, 35, and his mother Fauve Syers, 30, the now 19-month old boy made an incredibly recovery from his heart attacks

Pictured with his father Steven Fry, 35, and his mother Fauve Syers, 30, the now 19-month old boy made an incredibly recovery from his heart attacks

Brave baby Theo even suffered 25 heart attacks in just one day - thought to be the most suffered by anyone in the UK in 24 hours

Brave baby Theo even suffered 25 heart attacks in just one day - thought to be the most suffered by anyone in the UK in 24 hours

Fauve and Theo's father Steven Fry, 35, were told that their son was in critical condition, although medics didn't know what was wrong with him. 

Eventually, they were told that Theo had heart failure and needed an operation - or he would die. 

Fave said she went into shock and Theo was then rushed to Alder Hey where, four days later, he had his first open heart surgery.

Speaking to the Mirror, Steven added: 'We were told if we hadn't called 111 that night, Theo wouldn't have woken up next morning.'

The constant attacks he suffered on January 31 prompted Theo's surgeon Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni to operate

The constant attacks he suffered on January 31 prompted Theo's surgeon Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni to operate

As he was operated on, he suffered a heart attack and then suffered another one as he spent three months in Alder Hey.

Theo even contracted sepsis but the baby was able to  – yet he battled through and was sent home in July 2017.

However, there was worse to come as he went back in to hospital a few months later with a dangerously high heart rate. 

On December 21, he had another cardiac arrest and his heart stopped beaten for 12 minutes.

Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni admitted the operation was a risk but he discovered the issue and saw that Theo's left ventricle was covered in scar tissue

Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni admitted the operation was a risk but he discovered the issue and saw that Theo's left ventricle was covered in scar tissue

He was able to open the ventricle and Theo made a swift recovery, leaving the ICU just two days later

He was able to open the ventricle and Theo made a swift recovery, leaving the ICU just two days later

Over Christmas and January, he suffered two more heart attacks before the night of January 31 where he suffered 25 cardiac arrests in 24 hours. 

His mother said: 'He had 25 cardiac arrests in 24 hours.

'It was horrific. He was having attack after attack. I knew he couldn't take much more. Every time it happened, nurses would buzz for the arrest team. He had the most buzzers pressed overnight in intensive care anyone can remember.

'I watched the resus team working on him with every chest compression, thinking, ''Oh my god, please don't let this be his last breath''.'

The constant attacks prompted Theo's surgeon Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni to operate.

The doctor admitted Theo may not survive but also said that the baby would die if the procedure didn't take place.  

Father Steven revealed how their initial phone call to the NHS helpline saved Theo, as he would've died overnight otherwise 

Father Steven revealed how their initial phone call to the NHS helpline saved Theo, as he would've died overnight otherwise 

Thankfully, Dr Ramana discovered the issue and saw that Theo's left ventricle was covered in scar tissue, which stopped it working.

He was able to open it up and Theo immediately made a recovery, leaving the ICU just two days later.  

One year on, Theo is all smiles with his cheeky, happy grin a regular sight. 

His mother added: 'Everyone who sees him says how happy he is,' says Fauve. 'It's incredible what he's been through. He's so strong.'

The surgeon who saved Theo described his recovery as being incredible.

Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni said: 'Theo suffered the most arrests in 24 hours I have heard of – it is very rare and unusual. We had to operate immediately, as he wouldn't have survived much longer.

'It was very risky. It could have gone either way. But he pulled through and his recovery was amazing. The difference in him is incredible.' 

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