At CHSF, we a so grateful witness countless inspiring stories of strength and resilience from children and their families as they navigate the challenges of congenital heart conditions.
Sonny is just one of those children…
Sonny’s dad, Adam, writes:
“Our son Sonny has tricuspid atresia.
“He is now 8 and had his Fontan procedure on 19th May of this year.
“Thankfully Sonny made a very good recovery and was able to leave hospital two weeks later. He has continued recovering well.
“On the 2nd September we went to Hutfest which is a running event. Sonny entered the children’s fun run and managed to complete the 1 mile distance!
“This was a huge milestone for Sonny. Prior to his surgery, he struggled to walk up the stairs in our house without getting out of breath.
“Me and my wife, Caroline, are forever grateful to all the staff on Ward L51, especially to Miss Carin Van Doorn who carried out the procedure.
“Finally thank you to Children’s Heart Surgery Fund who helped us massively with the accommodation during the early days of surgery, plus being there on the ward regularly with gifts and entertainment.
“We just wanted to say a big thank you!”
We’re sure you’ll join us in celebrating Sonny’s extraordinary milestone, made possible by our amazing Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and the generous contributions of our CHSF supporters.
Well done, Sonny. Always keep going for gold!
Florence Dottie: Heart Month 2026
Florence’s journey into the world of congenital heart disease began long before her family were ready for it. What followed was a difficult mix of fear, medical decisions and tiny moments of hope that carried them through.Mum Kelly, from Halifax, said: “Florence’s...
Honey is home, because of you!
“After 7 weeks in hospital, we are finally home with our little girl - Honey. “Honey has been through more in her first 7 weeks of life than most of us will in a lifetime. "Born with a heart defect - coarctated aorta - she’s battled a chest infection, a...
Rowan: Heart Month 2026
“The time in hospital was a very scary time and the resources that CHSF provide are invaluable. “CHSF is an amazing resource for children with congenital heart disease and their families!"Mum Sarah, from Grimsby, said: "Our local hospital discovered Rowan had a...