Medical practice at the time meant they were told he would have to live with the condition until he was about nine or 10 years old before they could operate.
However, by the age of four and a half, they got a call from their local GP telling them if surgeons did not operate immediately he would not make it to five.
At this time of year with Good Friday Appeal fundraisers taking place across the state, the RCH is front and centre in people’s minds.
However, it is stories like Grant’s, of which there are thousands, that highlight exactly how important it is.
When Grant was born he picked up the nickname “Sput” after his grandfather watched the launch of Earth’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik.
While the space race was in its infancy, Melbourne’s RCH had already been saving lives for 87 years.
“Back in those days it took a bit longer to diagnose a ventricular septal defect (hole in the heart),” Mr Ellis said.
"Mum would take me to the doctor and they would say I was fine, but she knew something was wrong.
“Eventually I was diagnosed and I was back and forward to the RCH until I was four.
“Then they told my parents that they had to operate or I wouldn’t live any longer, that was in 1962.
“They put me into the RCH on April 29 and they operated on May 4.”
Mr Ellis said back in ’62 his parents were allowed in to see him only during visiting hours.
“I remember being in there,” he said.
“I was a little country boy in a big city hospital by myself. Everyone was wonderful, but it was a bit daunting.
“And then before the operation they sent my parents away.
“They were told to go home and not to come back until the following evening.
“My dad asked the surgeon what to expect when they get back.
“They told him I’d either be all right, or I’d be critical, or I’d be gone.
“So my parents had to go to where they were staying, with a friend in Melbourne, and wait until the next evening to find out if their son was alive or dead.”
When his parents arrived the next evening, they were greeted with good news.
“Dad took one look at me, and said ‘come on we’re going home’, and we got a taxi and left,” he said.
“I had to go back and fourth to the RCH until I was 14 for checks.
“And then after that I took up life working in the shearing sheds for more than 40 years.”
Mr Ellis said it was a Dr Wight in Benalla who diagnosed him, and Dr Westlake was his surgeon at RCH, and he was eternally grateful to both.
“That all happened almost exactly 60 years ago, and I think it is just wonderful that the Good Friday Appeal supports the RCH,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the RCH and what they did.
“And it’s only got better. It is a wonderful, terrific facility and I can’t speak highly enough of the work they do.
“Nowadays they’ve improved so much with all the facilities for parents who can now stay with their child.
“On May 4 I will be having a drink to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of my operation.”
Mr Ellis said he would also be raising a glass to RCH and all those who supported the Good Friday Appeal.
He also touched on how important it was for people to donate blood, when they could.
“When I was in RCH they told me it took literally gallons of blood to start the heart/lung machine,” he said.
“Whilst I’m sure that is no longer the case, my operation needed donated blood.
“And that will be the case for many of the operations it carries out today.”
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