Heart Heroes

Heart Heroes is a fantastic charity. Their wonderful support has helped us meet other families who understand what it’s like to have a poorly child.They organise events for us all to enjoy and have a break from the worry of life!I will be forever thankful ❤️

Our daughter had open heart surgery at four years old, and heart heroes has been a lifeline for her, us and her little brother. Being around families who have been through this is so uplifting, and having space for them to compare scars and experiences. We always look forward to our hub meetings and we are so grateful to heart heroes and all they do. Thank you all so much.

Fantastic charity which helps us as a whole family. Our son has chd and is very hard on us as well as his siblings, so to be able to do things together as a family which takes all our minds of his disability is refreshing. It also gives the children and us as parents a time to communicate with other families like our own. Who understand what we go through every day, and this all happens because of heart heroes.Heart heroes also do an ican which the heart child and siblings over 4 can attend monthly. They absolutely love this as each month it's a different activity....Really shows that no matter what disability our children's have with their hearts they still CAN do them. It ranges from ICAN art, ICAN baking, ICAN horse riding, ICAN film making to ICan exercise and so many more. The children have so much fun and always come out smiling with so much to say about what they have been up too.The last two weekends we have been so lucky and on one of the Sundays we had the chance to go on a Santa train with other heart children to see Santa.This Sunday just gone we went to the annual Christmas party. This was absolutely amazing, the kids had activities to do e.g. make a penguin teddy, Photo booth, face painting, party games and got to meet star wars characters and frozen characters. We were all treated to a buffet lunch as well, which was delicious and again all done by heart heroes. My boys always have an amazing time and are making so many precious memories that we will treasure forever.

Two representatives of Barnwood’s Marketing team recently joined members of Heart Heroes, with some of the families they support, at a recent coffee morning to present the charity with a donation towards their upcoming charity ball.Our team were really inspired to see and hear about the charity and the work they do, and how much support is given to such wonderful families. “We were really moved hearing stories and experiences from the families there, and thank Amy & Kelly for giving us a wider understanding of the charity” Millie and Lily.

When I connected with Heart Heroes, after sharing a Facebook post from Alder Hey, it opened my eyes to whole new world of invaluable support, for children living with Congenital Heart Disease, that I never knew existed.At the time of my Open-Heart Surgery, in 1973, the psychological side of living with CHD was not a priority.The physical care from the doctors and nurses was second to none, especially considering the technically poor equipment of the time, but I don’t remember being helped with the emotional side of my treatment.I have vivid memories, at the age of 7, of being left alone in my bed when I was transferred to a convalescent hospital, waiting in tears for my mum and dad to make the 60-mile round trip from home.Apart from my cardiac challenges, my childhood was perfect, and it would take until 2019, when I was 54, for me to expose the internal damage caused by my heart treatments, trauma and the traits that I used to control 31 years of palpitations caused by my 2nd CHD, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.In 2017, I visited the Cardiac ward at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, to deliver arts and craft equipment, and I had my first glimpse of how the psychological side of cardiac treatment had improved. Play therapist nurses, pre and post-op support, single rooms, nearby family accommodation, child-friendly books helping to explain their time in hospital and shorter stays in hospital.The support of the children while they are in hospital is invaluable, but, as the anxiety for the children and their parents is constant, I can’t overstate how important charities like Heart Heroes are in providing activities, care, advice, equipment and the opportunity to reach out to other families facing similar situations.Living with any disability is challenging but when the illness is invisible, only those that face similar difficulties can truly relate to trauma experienced. The uplifting power of organised events that bring the children and their families together and provide opportunities to try new things, expanding their horizons in a safe and supported way.Time spent with children is a gift that will last a lifetime and, although the rewards may not be realised immediately, I’m in no doubt, especially given my story, that the support provided by Heart Heroes will reduce the effects of the trauma felt by the children and their families and have a massively positive impact on their lives as they move into adulthood.I’m so glad I connected with Heart Heroes so I could witness all the incredible life changing moments they create for the inspirational children in their care.On behalf of all the children, thank you for everything you do.

Kelly who founded Heart Heroes, together with her fantastic team do a truly incredible job supporting children who have life limiting heart conditions. They also offer much needed support to their families.We have attended many amazing events and they have all been fabulous, raising money for such a good cause. Well done Heart Heroes for all the fantastic work you do. Mike & Kim xx

Such a lovely charity who puts on fab activities for children with heart conditions and their families. Heart heroes even lets my daughter attend them because her cousin, our nephew has CHD. This charity has been fab helping my sister in law because as a family we dont always understand what they are going through so its brilliant there is a charity out there where she can talk to other families going through a similar situation.

Our son was born with several heart conditions and had open heart surgery when he was 7 days old. Heart heroes have been an unbelievable support network for us - helping us find families who have been in the same situation, and for our son to meet other children with the same struggles. What you need most, when you feel like no one understands, is the support from people who actually do understand!