© Provided by Southend Echo Inspiring Basildon young girl suffered cardiac arrest in park before winning award (Image: BHF)
AN INSPIRATIONAL 14-month-old Basildon girl suffered a cardiac arrest and was saved by her quick thinking godmother, before being diagnosed with eight underlying heart conditions.
Sienna Crook, who is now two years old, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while on the way home from a trip to the local play park with her mum, Jody. With Sienna that day, was her god-mother Kaylie who had gone to the park with her own children.
Realising the emergency, Kaylie dialled 999 and calmly followed the instructions of the call operator to carry out CPR until an ambulance arrived despite having no first aid training.
Following her collapse, Sienna was subsequently diagnosed with eight heart conditions including Brugada syndrome – a rare inherited heart condition.
She underwent open heart surgery and was fitted with a pacemaker and an ICD – implantable cardioverter defibrillator – a small device that can reset her heartbeat if it became life-threatening.
Now the inspirational girl and the woman who saved her life have been named as ‘heart heroes’ by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) at a star-studded awards ceremony in London.
Sienna’s mother, Jody, said: ”We are over the moon for Sienna to have won this award. She loved the whole evening and took the whole event in her stride – even waving to everyone during the ceremony.
“This award is a huge silver lining to what has been a very difficult and tough time for our family. Sienna is a remarkable and brave young girl and it’s lovely for her to have this recognition.
“Supporting the BHF is really important to us as their work creates hope and that’s something we really needed for our family and our little girl who has an incurable heart condition.”
Two-year old Sienna Crook, from Basildon, and Kaylie Charlery, from Springfield in Chelmsford, were announced as winners at the charity’s annual Heart Hero Awards.
Since her diagnosis, Sienna’s mother, older brother, and grandfather have also been diagnosed with the condition. However, the family have turned their efforts to finding a cure by raising over £25,000 for research into the condition.
At the ceremony, Sienna won a young heart hero award which recognises heart patients, fundrais-ers, and advocates who inspire others. While Kaylie was presented with a CPR hero award by foot-ball legend David Ginola whose own life was saved by CPR after having a cardiac arrest in May 2016.
Kaylie said: “It’s an incredible honour to have won the CPR Hero Award. It’s a very special and emo-tional night. The whole evening was lovely – especially the fact that myself and my husband Chris and Sienna’s parents Jody and Jamie have all been here together to see my goddaughter Sienna win her young heart hero award. She’s such a strong and remarkable little girl.”
The event was hosted by TV personality Vernon Kay and took place at the historic Glaziers Hall in London. Guests and award presenters included gymnasts Ellie and Becky Downie, TV presenter Will Njobvu, and Made in Chelsea star Ollie Proudlock – who was recently announced as a BHF Am-bassador.