Dear Very Important Parent,
Over the past four years, I have witnessed you taking on so many roles as you have supported your child through hospital admissions.
Not only are you ‘Mummy’ or ‘Daddy’, but you are also a caregiver, a nurse, a comfort blanket, countless words of reassurance, a constant source of energy…
You have meetings, retain information and relay that information on to other family members.
You wash, provide food, provide distractions and kiss away pain.
All on a daily basis, and all whilst feeling an immense amount of stress. And you do this because as parents this is simply your job.
Well, our job at CHSF is to take care of you.
Take care of you and ensure you have support and someone to lean on.
There is no one in the world who can do the job you do, and do it as well as you, so when the day is over, please remember to do something for yourself.
Get some fresh air, eat something, take a shower or a bath, make a call to a friend or simply close your eyes, rest, and recharge.
And when the simple things seem the hardest, be kind to yourself and ask for support.
With love,
Sarah x
Sarah joined CHSF in 2020 when we launched our brand new Family Support service. Four years later, Sarah is now Head of Family Support and leads the team in being there for our heart families when they need us most.
Find out more about CHSF’s Family Support service and request support here.
Youth Day: August 2025
Calling all 13-16 year olds!Sign up for our Youth Day this summerWhen? Tuesday 12th August 2025 Where? Lineham Farm, Leeds [Google Maps] Time: 9:30am - 3:30pm (lunch included!)Join the CHSF team for an exciting day at Lineham Farm this summer! Meet other young people...
CHSF donates £15,000 to Eckersley House
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) have awarded a further grant of £15,000 towards Eckersley House, a ‘Home from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust for parents with a seriously ill child in hospital. Since being relocated next to the Leeds Children’s Hospital in...
Support for families: May 2025
"This month we have reflected on connections. We tend to focus on positive outcomes in terms of a successful surgery, a family going home after a long admission or the speedy recovery of a patient - but we sometimes forget those small wins and bonds formed through CHD...


