When Finlay was born, his mum and dad thought he was just like any other healthy, happy, baby.

The Hunts Post: Finlay, now aged eight months, following his heart op ordeal.Finlay, now aged eight months, following his heart op ordeal. (Image: Archant)

However, Cassie Davies, 24, and Steven Frost, 32, of Cheere Way, Papworth Everard, would soon find out that his continual crying was not just a passing illness, but a sign of a serious condition.

His parents paid several visits to their GP, who suggested that they take him to Hinchingbrooke Hospital because he was not feeding well or gaining weight. The three-week-old was soon whisked away and put on emergency oxygen after doctors discovered there were low levels of oxygen in his blood.

His parents were later told that he had a congenital heart condition – transposition of the great arteries (TGA) – and that he also had two holes in his heart.

One of the holes had been keeping him alive, but as they arrived at hospital the hole closed, causing Finlay to deteriorate fast.

A cardiologist told the couple that they needed to go straight to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, and they were rushed there in an ambulance.

Doctors operated that night to make another hole in Finlay’s heart so that he could be stabilised before his open heart surgery to repair the TGA.

Ms Davies said: “We were in shock. We had left Charlie [their other son] with grandparents and come to London in such a rush.”

They were given an emergency room by the hospital, before The Sick Children’s Trust stepped in to give them a place to stay at their ‘Home from Home’ on Guilford Street.

She added: “We were feeling very emotional that day, so much so that when we met Tina, the house manager, and she showed us our room, Steven cried with relief.

“At last we had somewhere to leave our things and we could relax knowing that we could come back there each day to shower, eat and sleep.”

After eight days, Finlay, who is now eight months old, was discharged from hospital.

Ms Davies said: “Finlay is doing really well now. We are so grateful to The Sick Children’s Trust for helping to ease our stress and giving us a place to stay while he was so ill.”