Medical ambition

About Health –

Sixteen years ago, Talya Raphael was on a life-support system fighting for her life.

At just 10 weeks old, she had been admitted as one of the first paediatric intensive care patients to St Mary’s Hospital, London, with breathing difficulties.

Doctors discovered a previously undiagnosed heart condition and after surgery she made a full recovery.

Today, Talya is a healthy teenager, and proving a beacon of hope for the parents of other sick babies.

Role model

She wants to be a doctor – specialising in paediatric care – and has been carrying out work experience in the unit where she was treated.

"I saw the kids on the unit and some of the parents," said Talya.

He saved my life and it is so amazing that someone can do that Talya Raphael

"It was great for both me and the parents to be able to talk about what was happening. And seeing how well I am now gave the parents a bit of hope I think."

Talya was cared for by Dr Parviz Habibi, consultant in paediatric intensive care, who founded the St Mary’s unit, and she said it had been great to work with him.

"Doctor Habibi was really helpful to my parents, and inspired me.

"When I met Dr Habibi I was even more determined to be a doctor. He saved my life and it is so amazing that someone can do that.

"I have always wanted to be a doctor, it is like a dream."

Heart condition

Her mother Victoria Raphael said the whole family had good reason to be grateful to the unit.

"Talya is a twin and along with her brother was born prematurely at 31 weeks," she said.

"From the start there appeared to be problems with Talya although we didn’t know what, and at 10 weeks she got seriously unwell.

Dr Habibi was Talya’s inspiration

"She was not feeding so they took her into paediatrics.

"They did not have a paediatric intensive care at the hospital where she was born, and as she was so tiny they contacted St Mary’s who only had two paediatric beds at that time and had one free.

"She had bronchiolitis (a respiratory infection). She was on full life support from the Friday to the Tuesday.

"Dr Habibi was concerned why Talya had been so unwell with the bronchiolitis, when her brother had also had it and yet was not unwell.

"He started investigations and it turned out that she had a hole in the heart, which had not been diagnosed."

At seven months, Talya had an operation.

Dr Habibi said he had been delighted to see how one of his early patients had thrived and was able to provide reassurance to the parents of sick children on the ward.

"I was thrilled to hear from Talya’s parents after so many years," he said.

"Seeing Talya again, now grown up and a lovely intelligent young lady, was a heart-warming experience.

"As a doctor to be able to see her is such a reward. No number of thank you’s or rewards are better than that."

Meanwhile, Talya is working hard studying for her baccalaureate in an attempt to get the grades to study medicine.