written by Kathryn’s daughter Deborah
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is close to our hearts as Millie (my daughter, Kathryn’s grandaughter) was born with Tetralogy of fallot in September 2005.
It was then we were thrown into a whole new world that none of us knew anything about.
Millie had her first shunt operation at a few months old but before that she underwent an operation to unblock her bowel. In May the following year she was also diagnosed with a subglottic stenosis where she had pioneering surgery to take rib cartilage and stitch into her windpipe to reopen her windpipe.
Millie underwent her first open heart surgery just after her second birthday. She then had open heart surgery again 11 years later, in May 2019.
Millie in hospital, 2007
Millie is a keen musical theatre performer, attending performing arts school as well as horse riding and many other activities.
It’s thanks to the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, the amazing surgical staff, nurses…in fact everyone involved in her care that she has grown into the wonderful person she is.
We hold CHSF close to our hearts for the amazing support they provide parents and families who are thrown into the congenital heart world!
We have done fundraising for CHSF in the past. My mum – who also worked in theatres at the LGI until her sudden passing on 13 March – also supported the cause as Millie was the apple of her eye.
Despite her own 45 years working for the NHS in theatres as senior sister/nurse etc she held colleagues involved in the care of these special heart babies and children in very high regard and was eternally thankful for what CHSF have all done for us as well as other families.
So, a fitting tribute to mum and CHSF was to collect donations in lieu of flowers at her funeral. Most of the contributions came from her colleagues and friends who work at the LGI and Pinderfields, where Millie’s grandad also works in theatres and has also given 50 years of service to the NHS.
Deborah and Millie, last month at LGI
A wonderful £530 raised for our heart unit, patients and families in memory of Kathryn Bedford.
Thank you so much to all of Kathryn’s family, friends and colleagues for thinking of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at such a difficult time.
We are so very grateful for your generous donation in support of our work supporting hearts for life.
We can only do what we do because of people like you.
Donating in memory is a touching way to remember a loved one, celebrating their life and supporting a cause which was important to them. You can read more about donating in memory here or get in touch with the team on 0113 831 4810 | info@chsf.org.uk
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