Meet Oliver from Hull who was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of fallot.
Thanks to the life-saving work of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, Oliver is thriving and has been able to pursue art as a hobby and, more recently, a career in finance!
Now 22, Oliver shares his journey with CHD so far and how he has supported CHSF with his family to say ‘thank you’ for the care he received in Leeds…
“I was born with Tetralogy of fallot and had open heart surgery when I was a year old.
“When I was sixteen, I had my second open heart surgery to replace one of my valves and I now have an annual heart scan to check how my heart is doing.
“Throughout my life, my family have done many casino nights and coffee mornings to raise money for Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
Oliver had his first open heart surgery at Leeds wheen he was just a year old.
Oliver and his brother share a passion for art so arranged a fundraiser for CHSF where they raffled off a drawing commision as part of a Coffee Morning,
“In 2022, I worked with my brother to arrange our own fundraising coffee morning, which was a great success. As part of our coffee morning, we held a raffle for a drawing commission done by me and my brother, since we are both passionate about art.
“I started at Arco in 2021 as a finance apprentice, and I passed my level 2 AAT Foundation certificate in accounting apprenticeship at the start of 2023. Most recently, I started the level 3 qualification of AAT in September of 2023.
“My apprenticeship and job have greatly helped develop my confidence and I enjoy the range of tasks that I do within the Transaction Team of Arco’s Finance department.”
We’re really grateful to Oliver for sharing his story with us. It is so inspiring for young heart patients and families to see a young adult doing so well.
We are of course also so thankful to Oliver and his family for their continued support of CHSF!
Design a Heart Competition for World Heart Day
DESIGN A HEART COMPETITIONCelebrate World HeART Day with our Design A Heart competition! This is your chance to shine - whether you love to draw, paint, or craft, create a heart that shows your journey with CHD, remembers a loved one, celebrates those who've helped...
Wakefield heart hero set to conquer Great North Run for CHSF
21-year-old Danny Hirst was born with a hole in his heart, which was discovered when he was just 6 weeks old. Danny had open heart surgery in Leeds when he was 11. And he is set to take on the Great North Run to raise vital funds for the charity which helped him and...
Be a hero for…LOCHIE!
Lochie Blue is 2 years old and lives in Silsden near Keighley. He was diagnosed at 10 days old with Coarctation of the aorta, Ventricular septal defect (VSD) and Atrial septal defect (ASD). Lochie and his family will be at this year's Superhero Walk and we spoke to...
Fundraiser of the Month: Family & Friends of Isaac Phoenix Davison
Isaac was born in November 2022 with a heart condition called Tetralogy of fallot. Mum Leanne, tells us a bit more about her son and the fundraising family and friends have been doing in his memory since Isaac sadly passed away in April last year.Leanne said: “Isaac...
Meet CHSF Youth Worker Lu!
Meet Lu, our incredible Family Support/Youth Worker at Children’s Heart Surgery Fund! This 'International Youth Day', she tells us a bit more about her role at CHSF and the latest resource she's put together for our young people! “Hi! I’m Lu, the Family Support/Youth...
Jessica
Jessica Thomas, 13, excels at dancing after overcoming heart defect A teenager who had an eight-hour open heart operation at just six months old has been described as 'inspirational' after excelling as a dancer.Jessica doesn't let her heart condition hold her back....