Mark Tyrrell doesn’t fight off tyrannical officials or defend villagers against villains, but the Melton father is a superhero in his home town.
Mr Tyrrell, a nurse at Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre, donned a Zorro costume last Friday to raise funds and awareness of a condition that’s close to home for him – congenital heart disease.
His eldest daughter, Makayla, 8, was diagnosed with the disease at 20 weeks in utero. And it’s been a rollercoaster ride for the Tyrrells ever since.
“We went for the 20-week ultrasound and it’s really exciting to see your baby for the first time, hear their heartbeat,” Mr Tyrrell said.
“We saw our obstetrician for a follow-up three weeks later and were told there was a problem with our baby’s heart.”
Mr Tyrrell hopes the money he raises for the HeartKids Foundation will help researchers better understand the causes and processes of childhood heart disease. Friday was Super Boss Day, an initiative where bosses and staff dress as superheroes to support HeartKids.
What caused Makayla’s heart condition is still not known.
“At one point, my wife said she doesn’t know what she did wrong – she said she followed everything, like most new mums do. She … did all the right things, and then we found out about Makayla’s condition.”
Makayla’s smaller-than-average heart and lower oxygen levels mean a simple cold can mean a trip to hospital. Six months ago, she caught a cold that turned into the flu. “We spent five or six days in hospital and it took her another three to four weeks to recover,” Mr Tyrrell said. “Sometimes I have to take my dad hat off and put my nurse’s hat on … to keep me calmer.”
Donate at superbossday2016vic.everydayhero.com/au/marktyrrell
