Being pregnant and having a baby within the past year has been hard enough, especially with all the restrictions during lockdown.

But for mum Michelle Cheverton and her partner, Shane Jones, of Ryde, the level of worry has been increased by the fact their baby was diagnosed with an abnormality of the heart during pregnancy.

Michelle said: "At 20 weeks, the sonographer on the Island noticed an abnormality with my baby’s heart and we were referred to Southampton's foetal medicine department.

"There we were given the news that the baby had a large tumour in his heart — they said it was a rare condition and it was a type of tumour they thought might not have a good outcome.

"Because of the size and position, the doctors felt removal would be difficult, so the baby might need to be put on the list for a transplant.

"We were offered a termination, but chose to continue with the pregnancy — as even if the worst happened, the doctors would learn more about the condition from our baby’s journey."

Michelle, who works as an emergency department assistant at St Mary’s Hospital, had regular scans during pregnancy to monitor the situation and the birth was planned for 38 weeks in Southampton.

She continued: "But my baby had other ideas and my waters broke in the early hours of September 23 at 36 weeks and three days. I went into St Mary’s and they arranged an ambulance transfer on 7am ferry to Southampton.

"They said they hoped to deliver by caesarean either that day or the next. Then at 11.30am a midwife appeared and told us they had a theatre slot and to get ready as we were going shortly.

"Quinn was delivered at 12.51pm and it was a relief to hear he was screaming. After his birth he spent time on the Paedeatric Cardiology Ward at Southampton General to investigate the tumour."

Isle of Wight County Press:

Newborn Quinn with his mum, Michelle.

Michelle added: "Once they scanned his heart outside of the womb, they saw two smaller tumours, which meant it could not be the type they originally thought and they said hopefully the tumours would shrink by themselves."

Baby Quinn weighed 5lbs 15ozs at birth and was named Quinn Christopher Cheverton, in memory of his grandfather, Island footballer Chris Cheverton.

During time in Southampton, Quinn underwent two general anesthetics and had a link device implanted under his skin, which is a remote internal cardiac monitor so his heart can be constantly monitored.

Quinn was allowed home on October 10 and he is still under the care of cardiologist.

Michelle concluded: "We don’t know what the future holds, but for now we are just enjoying the happy little boy he is.

"Quinn is doing amazingly, he’s such a happy little boy. We are still waiting for an MRI and an EEG in Southampton, but at the moment all is well.

"I am back at work in the emergency department and Quinn goes to nursery two days a week."