Claire House has been by the family’s side ever since Sienna’s health deteriorated
Claire House has been by the family’s side ever since Sienna’s health deteriorated
A mum says she is “scared“ to close her eyes as she fears the worst after her daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition. Sienna Alfonso, from Hunts Cross, was born with half a heart and has undergone dozens of operations in her short life.
When Francesca Alfonso was five months pregnant, she and her husband, Kyle, were told by doctors that Sienna would have complex heart problems. After Sienna was born, further investigations revealed more about her cardiac condition, tricuspid atresia and pulmonary atresia with hypoplastic right ventricle. She also developed additional serious medical conditions.
Now, aged 10, Sienna’s mum says it ”breaks” her heart every time she looks at her daughter. Francesca said: “Sienna is the cheekiest little 10-year-old that you’ll ever meet. She can’t walk and she can’t talk but her eyes and her smile always tell everyone exactly what she needs. She’s a very happy, cheeky, mischievous girl. And it breaks me every time I think of Sienna’s condition because she looks a bundle of health on the outside.”
She added: “Having a child who’s terminally ill is hard work. I can’t just ask anybody to look after my child for five minutes or to help me because they don’t know what she needs in the same way. But Claire House gave me that relief.”
Sienna was referred to Claire House Children’s Hospice in July 2021, when she was seven years old. She said: “The nurses at Claire House became an extension of our family. Without them, I really don’t know what I would do.
“Looking after a child who’s terminally ill and has heart failure, I have a lot of sleepless nights. I’m scared to close my eyes some nights as I fear the worst. It’s the only place where I can leave Sienna and not worry, because I know she’s receiving the very best care.”
Claire House has been there for Sienna and her family through many happy and difficult times. And last December, the hospice played a crucial role in bringing Christmas magic to the family. Francesca said: “Like most 10-year-old kids, Sienna loves ripping open her presents on Christmas morning. She loves meeting Santa too, and she usually shows her cheeky side by pulling on his beard to check if it’s real.
“But last year we were given a sudden and traumatic reminder that Sienna isn’t like most kids. Shortly before Christmas, Sienna went into stage three heart failure and, not for the first time, we thought we were going to lose her.
“Claire House was there to help me and Sienna’s dad through the ordeal. One of the nurses regularly came to the hospital, to hold my hand and to give me a shoulder to cry on. It was the worst of times, but also being Christmas, once Sienna was out of danger, we desperately wanted to take her home.
“With the huge support of Claire House, we managed to do that just two days before Christmas. Over the years, Claire House has been there to help the family make treasured Christmas memories.
“We never really know how many Christmases we’ll have with Sienna, so we want to make every Christmas count. And Claire House makes that possible. Claire House always makes sure that Sienna lives life to the full and that we get to make special memories along the way.
“Just before Sienna’s health deteriorated and she was admitted to hospital last year, we had a wonderful time at the Claire House Christmas party. All her favourite characters from Frozen, such as Elsa, were there.
“They sang Christmas songs, including Sienna’s favourite ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’. And Santa arrived too, with gifts for all the kids. Without Claire House, a lot of the memories we’ve made wouldn’t have been possible.”
