A brave toddler who is recovering from his second heart operation has found a unique way to make himself feel better – by eating PORK PIES.
Little Bobby Baldwin was born with three holes in his heart and has undergone two serious heart operations – but the only thing he wanted to eat during his recovery was a pie.
The 20-month-old’s condition means blood cannot pump round his body because he has no pulmonary arteries and had the first of what will eventually be three operations last September.
Mum, Emma Doherty said he first got the taste for pies at a party and and that was the only thing he wanted to eat after his first operation.
Emma, 29, explained that, despite the hospital having a chef, there was nothing Bobby wanted to eat but a pie.
“Six days after his open heart, he wouldn’t really eat anything and we were at our wits’ end. I needed to get him to eat.
“I asked my mum and dad to bring a pie to see if it was his appetite or he wanted a pie.
“They brought two pies and he ate them both. I think he missed his home food.”
Emma, from Wigan, Lancs., said Bobby was in hospital for his latest surgery in December and the family had a special Christmas Day before the 25th as they thought Bobby was going to be in hospital on the big day.
She has also thanked her local community in Wigan – often referred to as the UK’s home of pies – for their support towards Bobby, her and her partner, John Baldwin, 31.
She said: “Since he was admitted at six weeks old we have had nothing but support from everyone, people we know to total strangers.
“I just can’t thank you all enough for keeping us as parents strong so we can be strong for Bobby.”
“I believe if I lived somewhere else, it wouldn’t be as supportive.”
Of his obsession with pies, Emma said: “His favourite is pork pies. He had one at a party once and he never looked back.
“Every time we go shopping, he has to eat one all the way round the supermarket.”
Bobby’s condition has improved since surgery; however, he will be back in hospital in February for another operation.
