Support Joe and Hannah Matthews.
This has been an incredibly difficult time for them, as Kit is on the transplant list waiting for a new heart. 

A bright little boy and full of mischief, Kit Matthews, age 4, is never happier than when he is using his imagination to be one of the "classic" superheros.

Robin Hood is his favorite today, runner-ups include Indiana Jones and Captain America!

Kit has always been strong. He wasn’t ill for long before his heart began to fail but having two major procedures in less than a week meant that he lost weight rapidly. He now needs to rebuild his strength. At present, he cannot stand for more than a minute, and both the physios and play team are working hard on rehabilitation.

 After feeling unwell for a short period of time, Kit was admitted into three hospitals over the course of 5 days from Saturday 17th April this year. Through the amazing care and vigilance received, Kit was quickly diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. At Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital it became clear that Kit’s heart could fail at any time and he was in urgent need of a transplant. 

To support Kit while on the waiting for a new heart, the doctors made the decision to fit him with a Left Ventricle Assist Device (an LVAD). This was a big operation for such a young child but Kit came through it and then through a subsequent procedure to replace it with a Berlin Heart, which is lighter for Kit to manage.



Kit is slowly gaining in confidence, which is key to his recovery, both physically and mentally. As some of you will already know, Kit’s medical condition is not entirely new to the family. Kit’s dad was also diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at the age of 19 and received a new heart in 2006. He is now fit and well and we can only hope the same for Kit in the future. Kit’s prognosis means that he is unable to leave hospital until a new heart becomes available. Waiting for a heart transplant could take between 6-12 months.

To be near Kit, his mum and dad, Hannah and Joe, are currently staying in accommodation funded by the charity The Sick Children’s Trust. Kit’s brother, Monty 2, is sadly unable to stay with them due to Covid restrictions and the ongoing risk of infection. He is being cared for by close family who are driving to Newcastle regularly so that he can see his parents for short periods of time. Life is pretty tough for Kit at the minute, but we are all remaining positive and taking one step at a time as he responds to treatment and gets a little stronger each day. 

Kit has a team of medical specialists working around the clock to help build up his superhero strength and prepare him for surgery.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

****Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a medical condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is lessened because its main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened. In some cases, this prevents the heart from filling with blood as it should. Over time, it can affect the other chambers.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Support Kits Fight for a New Heart! -- Kit has a long road ahead and will likely be in the hospital for several months. 
Funds will help to things like:

Food and Lodging , potential lost wages, childcare and education costs for Monty, and additional expenses toward Kit's recovery.

Join us in the fight for a new heart for Kit, and help Kit and his family receive the best care possible, during this very difficult time. 

Pay it Forward! -- It is with deep gratitude, we will continue to support organizations who continue to fight for Kit everyday. Your support will also allow us to thank organizations like: 

Children's Heart Unit Foundation (CHUF)
Sick Children's Trust

Thank you! Joe and Hannah could not be more proud of Kit and his fearless, super hero nature. They are overwhelmingly grateful by how   much love their little man is surrounded by.

Please continue to keep Kit in your thoughts and prayers!They would like to thank everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers. 

Note from Dad, " Yes, he asked one of the nurses to draw him a mustache!"