HEART TRANSPLANT HERO
Donation protected
My little boy Kori was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, underwent two open heart surgeries as a baby plus countless medical interventions.
When he was five years old, we were told that Kori was unable to have the 'final' stage of surgery he needed (called the Fontan) as he probably wouldn't survive the surgery.
We were told that Kori would need a heart transplant, which was devastating!
After being transferred to Newcastle Freeman Hospital and undergoing several months of transplant assessments and invasive procedures, Kori was placed on the transplant list in February 2018.
We were told that he could be waiting for up to two years and that he may not survive the wait....but a miracle happened and a heart was found for Kori just days later!
I had recently given birth to Kori's little sister, so it was a shock when the call came through, but myself, my baby daughter and Kori all went via ambulance to Newcastle to receive the life saving surgery.
My partner followed a few hours later due to work and my teenage daughter had to go and live with her grandparents for three months whilst we lived in parent accommodation in hospital.
Kori survived the surgery but went through three lots of rejection, meaning he was in isolation and was poorly.
However, with the care and devotion from the incredible medical professionals in Newcastle, Kori was able to go home last summer (though was still in isolation for months, due to risk of infection).
We had also suffered a major flood at our house and had been living in rental accommodation (pre transplant) so came home to quite a job (unpacking and sorting through everything after builders were in).
Through all of this, Kori stayed positive (if not weak) and offered half of his bedroom to his baby sister, so she had room for her toys and cot etc.
He has since let us build a dividing temporary wall (to give him privacy) but sadly, this means that his baby sister has no window and only a dark strip of room for her cot.
Kori is nearly eight (which we never thought he would see) and has recently started school part time (for the first time in his life) so he has started to make friends, but he has nowhere to bring friends back to, as his bedroom is literally a strip near a window and not big enough to play.
We have drawn plans up to divide his bedroom in half lengthways, meaning both children would get a window and they could have a very small box room each...but it would be private and their own individual, safe spaces.
Kori has given away OVER half of his toys and possessions (alot went to hospitals) to make room for his sister and despite everything, he's been amazing with this and now...we are asking for HELP..not charity to fund this to happen.
All 'spare' money we get is going on hospital trips and raising money to fix our roof (as our money was stolen by roofers last year, who ripped us off...being dealt with by the police currently).
I don't like asking for help, it's actually embarrassing but we just can't afford to do it...so are asking for ANY help, be it screws, help with plaster boards, lengths of wood or financial help for carpets etc.
Receipts will be available, as will photographs of progress and plans etc.
We are asking for help for Kori and his sister, not for us and hope we don't offend anyone by asking.
Kori DESPERATELY wants a 'Bendy and the ink machine', black and white room...and the rooms will be very small but expensive for us as a family but we don't want him to miss out because we can't afford to do it for him.
The new space for both children would mean Kori could have his privacy and somewhere to rest when he's poorly as well as a play space for his new friends and his little sister could safely play with her toys in her own space AND have sunshine in the morning!
THANKYOU so so SO much in advance. x
When he was five years old, we were told that Kori was unable to have the 'final' stage of surgery he needed (called the Fontan) as he probably wouldn't survive the surgery.
We were told that Kori would need a heart transplant, which was devastating!
After being transferred to Newcastle Freeman Hospital and undergoing several months of transplant assessments and invasive procedures, Kori was placed on the transplant list in February 2018.
We were told that he could be waiting for up to two years and that he may not survive the wait....but a miracle happened and a heart was found for Kori just days later!
I had recently given birth to Kori's little sister, so it was a shock when the call came through, but myself, my baby daughter and Kori all went via ambulance to Newcastle to receive the life saving surgery.
My partner followed a few hours later due to work and my teenage daughter had to go and live with her grandparents for three months whilst we lived in parent accommodation in hospital.
Kori survived the surgery but went through three lots of rejection, meaning he was in isolation and was poorly.
However, with the care and devotion from the incredible medical professionals in Newcastle, Kori was able to go home last summer (though was still in isolation for months, due to risk of infection).
We had also suffered a major flood at our house and had been living in rental accommodation (pre transplant) so came home to quite a job (unpacking and sorting through everything after builders were in).
Through all of this, Kori stayed positive (if not weak) and offered half of his bedroom to his baby sister, so she had room for her toys and cot etc.
He has since let us build a dividing temporary wall (to give him privacy) but sadly, this means that his baby sister has no window and only a dark strip of room for her cot.
Kori is nearly eight (which we never thought he would see) and has recently started school part time (for the first time in his life) so he has started to make friends, but he has nowhere to bring friends back to, as his bedroom is literally a strip near a window and not big enough to play.
We have drawn plans up to divide his bedroom in half lengthways, meaning both children would get a window and they could have a very small box room each...but it would be private and their own individual, safe spaces.
Kori has given away OVER half of his toys and possessions (alot went to hospitals) to make room for his sister and despite everything, he's been amazing with this and now...we are asking for HELP..not charity to fund this to happen.
All 'spare' money we get is going on hospital trips and raising money to fix our roof (as our money was stolen by roofers last year, who ripped us off...being dealt with by the police currently).
I don't like asking for help, it's actually embarrassing but we just can't afford to do it...so are asking for ANY help, be it screws, help with plaster boards, lengths of wood or financial help for carpets etc.
Receipts will be available, as will photographs of progress and plans etc.
We are asking for help for Kori and his sister, not for us and hope we don't offend anyone by asking.
Kori DESPERATELY wants a 'Bendy and the ink machine', black and white room...and the rooms will be very small but expensive for us as a family but we don't want him to miss out because we can't afford to do it for him.
The new space for both children would mean Kori could have his privacy and somewhere to rest when he's poorly as well as a play space for his new friends and his little sister could safely play with her toys in her own space AND have sunshine in the morning!
THANKYOU so so SO much in advance. x
Organiser
Kerrylee Pixi Stovell
Organiser
England
