Because the valves of a cow's heart possesses a tissue physiology that is similar to human valves, cow heart materials are frequently used by surgeons as an option for treating a human heart.
This is how the doctors of Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool came to save Noa Gwilym Pritchard's life.
Noa was born and diagnosed with a rare disease called the Holt-Oram Syndrome. This heart disease is generally characterised by abnormality in bones found in the upper limb, congenital heart malformation or abnormality in the electrical impulses responsible for the muscle contractions of the heart.
The Holt-Oram Syndrome disease is found in only one out of every 100,000 and very often leads to further cardiac complications.
Knowing that Noa's survival was at stake, the doctors performed the open-heart surgery on him with both cow and human tissue only a few days after his birth. Following 8 months of battling for life, the doctors agree that Noa's recovery is phenomenal and describe his heart now as almost perfect.
Noa's mother Elen Pritchard, who was a former teacher of geography, says of her son, "It's incredible to think how he is today, compared to the serious prognosis given at the 20-week scan. We have learnt from this little boy that suffering is short-lived and that life and the blessing of having him is long-lasting. Noa's such a little fighter."
The little boy developed a hernia from the nature of his initial surgery. This, too, required a surgical procedure only two weeks after the heart operation. Noa's mother was right to call him a little fighter as he also recovered beautifully from his second successful operation.
A third operation is planned, this time for Noa's arm. However, this is not as urgent as his first two operations.
