All invited to lake walk with heart

HEARTKIDS’ annual Two Feet and A Heartbeat walk is returning next month in thirty one locations around Australia, including Ballarat.

The local walk will take place on Sunday 12 October at Lake Wendouree, with everyone invited to be part of it.

HeartKids is encouraging people to walk four kilometres in honour of the four lives lost each week to childhood-onset heart disease, or eight kilometres to mark the eight babies born each day in Australia with a heart condition.

Among those preparing to tackle the eight-kilometre option is Ballarat couple Anthony Cribbes and Matilda Nelles with their little daughter Tallulah, who is now eight months old and doing well.

But at just two weeks old, Tallulah was rushed to Ballarat Base Hospital in a critical state, diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

Her body had begun to shut down, and emergency staff had to access her bloodstream through the bone in her leg in what her parents describe as “probably a last chance effort”.

Thanks to fast action, Tallulah survived and was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital, spending 24 hours in ICU before bouncing back.

Since then Tallulah has had some further SVT episodes, including three emergency visits in one week, but she is now on new medication and her prognosis is positive.

Her parents say the initial shock was overwhelming but they’ve since learned that SVT is highly treatable and manageable long-term.

The family is grateful for HeartKids’ support and say their experience has given them greater perspective.

“We know that Tallulah’s outcome isn’t what other kids get often,” Mr Cribbes said.

“We love what HeartKids is doing for these families.

“Tallulah is going well now and the three of us and some other family members are going in the walk. We’ve signed up for the eight kilometres.”

Anyone who would like to contribute to the work of HeartKids can register to walk, donate or sponsor a walker by going to twofeetheartbeat.org.au.