Support Fund for Ollie Lennon

This page has been created to provide some financial relief for Ollie Lennon and his parents, Chrissy and Elliott Lennon at the darkest time of their lives.

Many people have asked how they can practically support Ollie and his family during his stay in hospital and over the course of his recovery (which we have been informed will take years)

You can read more of Ollie’s story below, after the bullet pointed highlights of how your donations will support the Lennon family.

We’d really like in the first instance:

· To help them maintain the roof over their heads in Worthing, ensuring they have somewhere to return when Ollie comes home knowing their rent is covered.

· Support for any additional childcare for Riley that may be required when their support network cannot cover – particularly at short notice.

· To ensure they are able to eat properly themselves whilst staying in the hospital; the first rule of first aid is to look after yourself, please help to ensure mummy and daddy can eat in order to stay strong for Ollie.

· To have a fund for any car parking/ train fare expenses so that Riley can visit his little brother without having to first think of how the cost of his visit will impact their already strained finances.

We would also like to ensure that Ollie’s family are able to afford the following in the long-term aspects of Ollie’s recovery:

· Travel fares from Worthing to London and return journeys for as long as Ollie requires follow ups (which is likely to be years).

· Any equipment Ollie may need to support his recovery/help to make him more comfortable.

· Any unforeseen expenses that could occur if Ollie becomes unwell.

Anything at all that you are able to donate will go towards supporting Ollie and his family and will be gratefully received.

Should there be any surplus funds, these will be donated and split between:

·         Great Ormond Street Hospital
·         Ronald McDonald Houses Charity
·         Southampton General PICU
·         Sick Children’s Trust

Ollie’s story in brief

As many of you know, our Godson Ollie is currently in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

2 weeks after his 1st birthday, Ollie swallowed a button battery which caused catastrophic damage and burns to his Trachea (wind pipe) and Oesophagus (food pipe).

Since then Ollie has undergone 8 surgeries/procedures to remove the battery, explore and determine the extent of his injuries and a miraculous 6 hour reconstructive surgery.

It hasn’t been an easy ride for wee Ollie and there have already been many hurdles along the way; at times there has been a startlingly real possibility that Ollie would not survive and his parents were warned that Ollie could die before reaching theatre.

Ollie himself has defied the odds stacked against him and fought like a tiger to stay where he belongs, on Earth. 

We have learnt that Ollie is a wee fighter and so very determined to come home to his Mummy Chrissy, Daddy Elliott and big brother, Riley. 

When not medically anesthetised for long periods to protect his life and allow his body to heal, Ollie has smiled and giggled his way through despite the pain he has so obviously been in. Absolutely remarkable -  he’d give a fully grown adult a run for their money!  

 At the time of writing, Ollie is still in an induced coma in intensive care but it is hoped he will be woken in the coming days. 

Ollie’s family have been informed that his immediate recovery following reconstructive surgery to repair the communicating holes in this trachea and oesophagus is expected to take weeks and months; this is not a short haul recovery and there are still likely to be hurdles for Ollie to jump before he can return home where he belongs. 

Ollie’s family have been told that after release – when Ollie is well enough – he will be under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital for many years to come, particularly over his developing years; this will mean the family will need to travel back to London From Worthing, West Sussex regularly. 

Many people have been asking if they can support Ollie and his family practically in any way. Here’s your chance to help. 

Chrissy and Elliott have kept a bedside vigil for Ollie since his first admission at their local hospital on 30/05/17 staying with him during his transfers to both Southampton General and GOSH so that he wasn’t alone/isn’t alone.

There will be more updates on this page as Ollie continues his journey. 

For now, we’d like to thank you for your support and donations.

With love.