On New Year’s Eve 2013, Lauren and her husband discovered they were expecting their first child. Like many parents-to-be, their hearts were filled with excitement, anticipation, and hope. When friends and family asked whether they wanted a boy or girl, Lauren simply replied, “It doesn’t matter, as long as he’s healthy.”

In April, they attended their 20-week scan, eager to catch another glimpse of their baby. They learned they were expecting a son, but the sonographer explained that the baby was in an awkward position, making it difficult to check all parts of his body. Initially, Lauren wasn’t concerned. Babies can be uncooperative in scans — she thought nothing more of it. After two more scans, the sonographer still couldn’t see everything clearly.

Then, on 23 May, Lauren returned for a fourth scan. Her husband couldn’t attend, so her mother accompanied her. They joked about how uncooperative the baby was, but the humor quickly vanished when a second sonographer joined the first. Lauren recalls the moment vividly: her heart sank as the new sonographer explained he was there to provide a second opinion. And then came the words that changed everything:

“There’s something wrong with baby’s heart.”

The news hit Lauren like a wave. Tears came instantly. The staff reassured her that this was not her fault and immediately referred her to a counsellor, helping her understand the next steps. She soon learned that her baby had a serious congenital heart defect known asTetralogy of Fallot (ToF). A fifth scan at Great Ormond Street Hospital confirmed the diagnosis, and from that moment, the couple’s lives became dominated by appointments, monitoring, and careful preparation for the arrival of their son.

Lauren and her husband picked a name for their baby: Mason Jacob. For Lauren, naming him helped foster a connection before he was born. “I didn’t like him being spoken about as a foetus. He was my child,” she says.

On 27 August 2014, Lauren was induced at 37 weeks + 5 days. Mason was born screaming and pink — a reassuring start in the face of serious medical concerns. Almost immediately, he was taken to theNICU to receive lifesaving medications that would keep him stable until he was ready for his first surgery.

At just 4 weeks and 6 days old, weighing only 6 pounds, Mason underwent hisfirst open-heart surgery. The procedure was successful, but Mason would require two more operations, with the final one completed in September 2015. Each surgery carried its own challenges, but his strength and the expert care he received guided him through.

Today, Mason is thriving. He attends nursery, has started school, and recently welcomed a little sister into the family. Lauren notes that when she was pregnant with her second child,the same sonographer who detected Mason’s defect performed her detailed 16-week scan. Thanks to the sonographer’s training with Tiny Tickers, they were able to see that everything was perfectly healthy, a comforting confirmation that the lessons learned from Mason’s experience were saving lives again.

Mason’s next scheduled heart surgery is planned for around 5 to 6 years old, and as the date approaches, the reality of the medical journey feels tangible once more. Yet Lauren is confident. “We believe in our soldier,” she says.

Reflecting on Mason’s story, Lauren emphasizes the critical importance of early detection. Without it, Mason’s life would have been measured in hours, not years. The 20-week scan that revealed his condition gave the family time to prepare, to receive specialist care, and ultimately, to give Mason the chance he deserved.

Mason’s journey is a testament to the power of vigilance, expert care, and the dedication of medical professionals and organizations like Tiny Tickers. It is a reminder that congenital heart defects can be detected, treated, and managed — and that early intervention can turn what could have been a tragedy into a story of resilience, hope, and a child who now lives a full and joyful life.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t think about what would have happened if Mason’s heart defect was undetected,” Lauren says. “Early detection saved his life.”