Arsenal Star Theo Walcott 8 weeks Baby undergoes heart operation

Arsenal Forward Theo Walcott who is yet to find his finest form after returning from injury and wife  Melanie narrates the story on how they felt when their son under went the heart operation to correct some heart defect. Theo Walcott and his wife Melanie says it was the “longest two and a half hours of our lives”

Speaking for the first time about their ordeal, the Arsenal and England forward, 25, and his wife of almost two years explained how their child Finley, who will be one next month, had to undergo a procedure to correct the congenital heart defect at just eight weeks’ old.

Mrs Walcott, 24, told how the problem was apparent almost immediately after Finley, who was two weeks’ premature, was born. She explained how medics discovered the baby had small holes in his heart that had not closely properly - a common problem with premature children.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, she added: “Finley had a routine check and they found a murmur, which, again is normal. But it should go after 24 hours.

“But it didn’t and it was discovered he had a valve that wasn’t working properly. Basically, the heart was having to work really hard to get the blood to his lungs, which meant that the right side of his heart was getting bigger.

“Theo and I were so new to it all, you suddenly feel so vulnerable because it is all taken out of your control. You’ve got this little person who is the most precious thing in the world and who you have this overwhelming urge to protect. It was a scary and emotional time.”

The successful two-hour procedure took place at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital. Thankfully, Finley has now made a full recovery and is fit and healthy.

Mrs Walcott, who is a patron of The Children’s Air Ambulance - the country’s first air service for seriously ill children, added: “It was the longest two and a half hours of our lives but the staff were fantastic. Theo and I just tried to keep strong for each other.”

Mrs Walcott, who next month will embark on a 22-mile walk to raise money for the charity to buy its second helicopter, said the experience had made her more protective of her son.

She added: “I could probably still do with letting go a little more than I do and allowing other people to look after him. But I’m much more chilled than I was.”

She said Finley was already taking after his father - and enjoyed kicking a football from his baby walker.

She added: “I see so much of Theo in Finley. Theo’s got this thing he does with his toes, scrunching them up when he’s relaxing and Finley does the same. They’ve even got these sweet little matching dimples when they smile.”

On his young family and the scare, Walcott said: “Mel and I are very family orientated. We couldn’t wait to have a child of our own because kids are the most important thing [...] And when they turn out to be like Finley, so happy, it makes you realise just how lucky you are.”