Hello, My name is Ayla. This is a diary of my time on Earth...... 28th June - 30 July 2008 |  |
 | I was born with a serious heart problem, called Truncus Arteriosus. This meant that I couldn't go home with Mummy & Daddy, instead I stayed in the Neo-natal ward at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where my Heart Doctor, Dr Wayalat, could keep an eye on me. |
I stayed here for the first 2 weeks of my life. Friends and family would visit every day and I loved getting cuddles and lots of attention! Mummy would sing to me as she held me in her arms and Daddy told me lots of funny stories! I always had smiles for mummy and daddy and I love them very much!! |  |
 | My favourite toy was, and still is... My pink teddy!! This was knitted for me by my Granny Hunter and he goes everywhere with me... He was even there with me when I first came into the world!! |
I also had a problem with my mouth. Its called Bi-lateral Cleft Palate and Lip. My good friends Linda and Orla would visit me often and give Mummy and Daddy advice and reassurance. They were both really nice. I met the surgeon, Dr Mehendeley who was going to make it all better for me, and she was lovely too! | .JPG) |
 | All the doctors and nurses were very nice to me, they were very helpful and were always nearby if I needed them. They taught mummy and daddy how to feed me and use all my equipment. |
I met some special friends while I stayed on this ward too. My friend Alan flew here in a helicopter from Aberdeen! He was a little bit shy with me when we first met, but now we have a bond, thanks to our parents, that will last forever! Matthew and Nathan were born 2 days before me and also stayed in my ward. Our mummies shared a ward also and have became good friends too. |  Matthew and Nathan |
 | I moved through to Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow when I was 2 weeks old. I was finding it harder and harder to breathe so the doctor wanted me to prepare for surgery. My teddy came with me in the ambulance and had a name bracelet on, just like me! |
This is the day before my operation. My Great Uncle Andy flew over from Spain to host a baby naming ceremony for me. This was a special day for me and brought all my family together. And of course, it was the day I officially became Ayla Hunter Invernizzi. |  |
 | My operation itself went well, but it made me very sleepy and I needed a machine to help me breathe. Mummy and Daddy, as always, were there to stroke my hair or sing me a lullaby if got upset or scared. |
