The emotional gratitude of a father to the "magicians" who saved his daughter's life

Alberto Lizaralde, photographer and creative director, has shared a thread on Twitter with which it has moved us all. It tells the story of his daughter Marina, who was born four months ago with congenital heart disease and had to have surgery when he was only one month old.

His sincere story he calls "A personal story to honor all those people who work with children in hospitals" is, in addition to an experience with which many of you will feel identified if you have gone through something similar, An emotional thank you to the medical professionals who saved your baby's life.

He was born with congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease is the birth defect with the highest incidence in Spain, which affects an average of eight out of every thousand babies born.

There are more than 50 different types of malformations of the heart, some may present a slight risk, which only require periodic check-ups, while others need interventions and some more serious ones that require immediate surgery shortly after birth. This has been the case with his daughter Marina.

The father starts the story like this:

Four months ago, my daughter Marina was born with congenital heart disease and had a heart operation with a month. pic.twitter.com/CEavfsokoj

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

He immediately clarifies that he tells the story so that "we are proud of the professionals we have in Spanish Health," which is not the same as "Spanish Health."

Expect it to serve "as tribute and show of admiration for all medical professionals who work with children"And ask that the message be shared so that it reaches everyone.

And continue with the story:

A couple of hours before we were discharged and going home with our newborn daughter at the #HospitalClinicoSanCarlos in Madrid a doctor noticed something strange in her heart. pic.twitter.com/YsG6F17vzV

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

He wanted to discharge us and we would return to review a few days later. But he hesitated, did a second test and decided not to. That made him the first person who saved his life. pic.twitter.com/WyMFZafNW2

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

If we had gone home within a few hours, surely the heart would not have been able to distribute the oxygenated blood through the body. I don't even want to think about how we would have realized it.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

Your problem is called severe pulmonary stenosis. It consists of a malfunction of the pulmonary valve. That makes the blood cannot reach the lung correctly to oxygenate. pic.twitter.com/JgnD8Vbs17

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

It was at that moment when the chain of magicians began that saved their lives one after the other.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

Always with professionalism, with respect, delicacy and a smile.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

At that time I also began to photograph the process and post it on Instagram. I am putting here some photos. You can also see them at //t.co/bhAA1MZ6jZ

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

In the Clinical Hospital they began to run in a hurry and do tests. In record time we already had the diagnosis. Imagine the drink. You thinking that you are going home with your daughter and they tell you that her life is in great danger.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

They told us with respect and maximum delicacy. They made an outline for us to understand how his heart worked. They accompanied us in tears ... and then they set off. pic.twitter.com/JONSazedMe

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

We were transferred to the University Hospital of La Paz. For us and our second home and the best place they could send us. pic.twitter.com/AB5M4F1oeL

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

A special ambulance of neonates, a giant incubator and dozens of cables connected to my daughter came. At least there were 6 people without taking their eyes off a second for the girl. More wizards to the list.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

They don't let you go with her in the ambulance because nobody else fits. When they looked at me they smiled at me and only said one thing: "Don't worry, I'm going to take care of her, it's going to be fine." You get a fucking throat lump ... pic.twitter.com/QnPeGcFLSF

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

When you arrive at the ICU of neonates in La Paz you feel alien, dizzy as if in a strange dream. And with a lot, a lot of fear. pic.twitter.com/vu6Uc3p96F

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

It is a corridor with several boxes on the sides full of babies. Many premature Some with less than 400gr. of weight. Others with # CardiopathiesCongénitas. It is the last place you would like to be but the first one if you need it.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

This place is a wonderful micro planet. Everything fits, everything gears perfectly. When they begin to tell you the treatment to follow you also begin to meet the people who work there. All amazing pic.twitter.com/kv6beP5cN2

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

All wizards

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

Never in my life have I met such professional and human people. Every day they deal with parents to whom life has given them the greatest host. Some of us are calm, others hysterical, all with a lot of pain inside. pic.twitter.com/RdyQc2NYbD

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

But whatever you are they will always take care of you, they will tell you a reassuring word, they will transmit energy to you. It's as if they were telling you all the time, "Quiet, it's hard, but we're going to leave our skin to save your daughter." And so it is.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

I remember one day that I fell apart. I started crying in the ICU next to my daughter's incubator. Silent.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

A nurse approached and took my hand. He told me it was good to cry and that my daughter would come out. That she would take care of herself. It's amazing what helped me at that time. pic.twitter.com/XmkHNz6aTe

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

There they are able to treat newborns and parents at the same time.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

I have no words to thank all the people who took care of my daughter Marina. If I say names I leave someone because they are many. And the most important thing is that they do it every day with each child. pic.twitter.com/CL5k2xUSVw

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

If you work there and are reading this I want to tell you something: What you do is very, very important. If you have little time in it please do not lose that energy or desire. Do not allow yourself to fall into the routine. You are important. pic.twitter.com/uBS01IURY7

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

If you carry a lot and are a little tired, recover the energy and realize that what you do is the host. Without people like you we go to hell. pic.twitter.com/6q0EDyXWyf

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

And you don't need to be a surgeon to believe this. I assure you that in the 2 and a half months that I have spent in the hospital until the smiles of the cleaning staff heal you inside. pic.twitter.com/3q1sHtkF5k

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

"Thank you. You are magicians.".

The doctors of the Spanish Health, not the Spanish Health

After thanking all the professionals who were with the family during the two months that his daughter remained, he mentioned the hard working conditions of many of them, everything they give to save lives, and the few resources they have .

Workers are the best, but many times they have to take excessive turns and give more hours and effort than they should. And that's where they show themselves above the system itself and decide that if they should give more they give it. pic.twitter.com/IjqIqC75vT

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

And they don't realize that poor working conditions mean worse attention to babies and fewer lives saved. pic.twitter.com/h13ItHhwWa

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

After stopping by and meeting these people, you think they should charge 3 times more than they charge. And I would be very happy to give double taxes if I went directly to your salary.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

But they endure under any conditions. Against all odds. Because they think our children come first. pic.twitter.com/rsbTl7ttp2

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

And after the parenthesis, continue with the story:

After two entrances to the operating room (the first with 4 days) they decided to operate my daughter's heart. He was one month old. They explained what they would do to him and the percentage of mortality. Open the chest, stop the heart, do magic and close again. pic.twitter.com/irVHHO9c1I

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

The postoperative period is very complicated and long. By now you know all the people who work here. And to parents who have been suffering for months like you every day. It creates a strange friendship. You give yourself support, energy, you share jokes ... pic.twitter.com/Z3oHZ1h0Th

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

During all this time you witness the large number of children who leave. But also of some who do not get it. We met three. All the energy for those parents. I'm sorry.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

But the vast majority come out! And it is thanks to the magicians. It is important that it be known. pic.twitter.com/e664m18OeH

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

It is also important to know that among the wonderful people are Menudos Corazones (@menudosmenudos). A foundation that greatly helps families with heart disease children. If you want to do something for these children, become members. It really is important. pic.twitter.com/UPZ6ApVnBZ

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

After two and a half months in the hospital today we are at home with Marina. It is recovering little by little. We have to give him 7 different medications every day and for now he is fed by tube. But it is with us. pic.twitter.com/xFly4YQT3x

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

If you are reading this and your baby was born with a similar problem, think that a lot of people are going to leave their skin on it. It will be hard, long, scary, probably the worst experience of your life. But you must trust. pic.twitter.com/de9fBVCsEW

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

Wizards will do their magic.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

So far this story. I hope it can serve as a tribute to all those health professionals. One way to say thank you all. I hope you get the message. And keep doing magic.

- Alberto Lizaralde (@Lizaralde) May 11, 2018

Nothing more to add.

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