Sam Carter is truly a Christmas miracle.  At 15 months of age, Sam was rushed to The Royal Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with severe heart failure – the result of a nasty virus.

“His heart was unable to pump enough blood to maintain his organs,” cardiac surgeon Mr Igor Konstantinov said.

“It’s quite a dangerous situation.  When somebody has such a severe myocardial infection, the first symptom could be death,” he said.

Doctors said Sam’s only chance of survival was to have a heart transplant; however, the wait for a donor heart can be long and fearful.

In order to keep Sam alive until a heart would become available, surgeons implanted an artificial heart.  Known as a Berlin heart, the mechanical device sits outside the body and takes over the function of a patient’s own heart.  Sam was the smallest child in Australia to receive an artificial heart.

Sam spent time in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, struggling to live.  But within four weeks doctors noticed his heart was growing stronger.  The artificial heart allowed his own heart time to rest and recover to the point that he was removed from the transplant waiting list.

One week later and surgeons removed the Berlin heart altogether.  Sam was given the thumbs up to go home in time for Christmas and unwrap presents with his siblings.

Sam’s parents Rick and Kelly couldn’t believe their son’s incredible turn around, after spending two months in hospital.

“I just didn’t think that day was going to happen,” Rick said.

Sam’s heart has now reached virtually normal function and the Carters are looking forward to a safe and healthy 2010.