Ollie’s Story

My baby boy, Ollie, is just 13 months old. At only two weeks old, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with a rare and complex heart condition: pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (PA-VSD MAPCAs).

Since then, Ollie has spent much of his first year in and out of hospital. But despite everything he’s been through, he is the happiest, cheekiest little boy. He loves bubbles, ducks, and making everyone around him laugh.

Ollie is my only child. He is my whole world.

And he deserves the chance to grow up, to go to school, make friends, and live the full life every child should have.

Why Stanford?

Ollie’s condition is life-limiting without surgery. So far, three major hospitals in the UK and more across Europe have told us the same devastating thing:

“We can’t operate.”

The only option offered here is palliative care, to make him comfortable, but not to save him.

As his mum, I can’t and won’t accept that as his only future.

That’s when we found Stanford Children’s Hospital in California. The world’s leading centres for Ollie’s exact condition.

Stanford have reviewed Ollie’s case and offered us hope: they believe he is operable, and have accepted him for life-saving surgery.

The Plan: Two Stages to Save His Life

Stanford will begin with a pulmonary artery reconstruction, which is the most urgent step. Right now, Ollie’s lung arteries are underdeveloped, making a full repair impossible. This surgery will improve blood flow to the lungs, helping his arteries grow strong enough over the next 6–9 months.

Once that happens, Ollie will be ready for stage two: the full repair.

We’re hopeful this second stage can be done back here in the UK.

But it all depends on getting him to America first.

The Challenge

This first stage of surgery can’t be done in the UK, as the NHS simply doesn’t have the expertise required.

The confirmed cost of treatment, recovery, and aftercare at Stanford is £1.5 million.

It’s an unimaginable figure for any parent.

We can’t do this alone, but with your help, we just might be able to.

How You Can Help

Every single donation, no matter how small, takes us one step closer to giving Ollie a future.

And if you can’t donate, please consider sharing his story. You never know who it might reach.

This is Ollie’s chance not just to have a childhood, but to grow up.

To laugh without limits.

To live the full, bright life he deserves.

Thank you for standing with us.

Thank you for believing in Ollie.

And thank you for helping us give him the chance of life.