Scots teen who survived major heart surgery awarded international football cap

A Scots teen who went through major heart surgery at just 13 months old has defied the odds and gained an international cap through her football career after falling in love with the sport at three years old.

Mia Scott from Clarkston who plays for Glasgow City Under 18s has undergone two major open-heart surgeries due to a congenital heart defect but has never let that stop her from achieving her dreams.

The 16-year-old was born with Pulmonary Atresia with VSD and, when she was just 10 days old, received emergency surgery at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital where she was given a BT shunt to keep her alive.

When Mia was just 13 months old, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Cardiac Team operated on her to give her a donor conduit, which is a ‘tube’ that enables blood to flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries.

The youngster then attended regular heart clinic appointments with the children’s cardiac service at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, where her heart was monitored throughout her childhood.

Medics advised Mia’s parents that this conduit would likely last Mia until she was about five years old, or at best, 10 but as she got closer to the 10-year mark, it looked likely that she would get more time without needing a replacement.

At age three, she joined Mini Kickers with her friends and never looked back. Once she started school, she wanted to attend the school football training.

Her talent was soon noticed by the coaches and, at age six, she was asked to join the Carolside Sports Club football team.

Mia Scott, 16.

At age eight, she joined Giffnock Girls, and at ten was asked to trial for Celtic Girls Under 12s where she stayed for three years. Following that it was onto Glasgow City who she continues to play with today.

Mia said: “The conduit that I received when I was a baby lasted far longer than any of us expected.

“At appointments, the doctors were telling me that my VO2 Max levels were better than some people with a healthy heart.

“Growing up, I lived a life where I wouldn’t think of myself as having a heart defect. I felt healthy.

“Then, when I reached 13, I finally started to feel a bit breathless and my chest was becoming tight, and exhaustion was creeping in during some matches.

“It was at that point that doctors told me that my conduit was finally reaching its time to be replaced and I was taken in for the ballooning of the conduit to give me a bit more time.”

The brave teen went on to defy the odds again and joined the national Scottish Schools Under 15s squad.

She was then invited to play for Celtic Under 16s and attended two Scotland Under 16s training camps.

At the beginning of this season, Mia returned to play for the Glasgow City Under 18s squad and had been training four nights a week with the club and playing a match most weekends.

Her last match was playing against Ayr United Women’s Club on the Sunday before her surgery to receive her new donor conduit at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.

On getting the life-changing operation Mia said: “I aim to get fit and healthy. I am being sensible with my recovery, but I have one dream in sight and that’s to be back on that pitch. I don’t see this surgery as hindering me. It is the opposite.

“I was starting to slow down as my heart got weaker. Now, I hope to be even stronger. I can’t wait to get back to my team at Glasgow City and I dream of playing for the Scotland squad once again.”

Mia has played football all her life.

Her mum Lynne Scott, explained that nothing has ever held Mia back and said: “Mia has climbed lots of Munros, she loves all sports and football is her passion. The team at the Royal Hospital for Children have helped Mia achieve so much and we are forever grateful to them.

“Amazingly, the surgeon and Lead Nurse who were there for Mia’s first operation were also there just three weeks ago. They could not believe what she had gone on to do since she was 13 months old.”

She continued: “We are incredibly grateful and fortunate to have such an amazing and extremely talented team who have helped Mia and our family.

“I have a message to all the parents whose kids might have just been diagnosed with a heart defect. There is a chance at a bright future. Live every day with them.

“Not every child is going to be as fortunate as Mia but there will be areas of enjoyment and activity that they can take part in. They will go on to be passionate about something and will find something that they love.”

Senior Charge Nurse at the Royal Hospital for Children, Louise Bell also said: “When children have a congenital heart defect and require surgery, they are in our care as inpatients and outpatients for the years ahead. We get to know them and their family really well and we build good relationships.

“It is wonderful to be part of their journey. Mia is unstoppable and we loved her on the ward recently as she brightened our day. Nothing was too much for her. She took it all in her stride. We wish her all the best as she continues to take on her recovery.”

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