Newborn's Shocking Heart Diagnosis Leads to Life-Saving Surgery

In November 2025, the parents of a 6-week-old baby named Atlas were shocked to learn that their son's seemingly minor cold symptoms were actually signs of two serious congenital heart defects. Matt Jukes and Tansy Simpson, from Peckham, London, had initially been reassured by doctors that their newborn was well, but as Atlas's condition worsened, they pushed for further examination.

At 6 weeks old, Atlas was diagnosed with a coarctation of the aorta and a large ventricular septal defect. The family spent the next month living at Evelina Children's Hospital, where Atlas underwent open-heart surgery at just 8 weeks old. The recovery process was long and overwhelming, with Atlas requiring a feeding tube and multiple medications.

Despite the immense challenges, the family persevered, and by the time Atlas reached 6 months old, the "permanent crying ceased" and he blossomed into a "joyful, happy, curious" baby. In the midst of the ordeal, Matt, an artist, began sketching whimsical illustrations for his son, which he is now donating to a charity auction to raise awareness and funds for heart research.

Today, Atlas is doing very well, and his parents are sharing their story to encourage other parents to advocate for their children's health and to support the vital work of organizations like Heart Research UK.