In April 2025, as well as the incredible day-to-day support from our Family Support team, we’re shining a light on our youth support work and the care given to families staying with us long-term on the ward.
Every month brings new families, challenges and stories, and thanks to your continued generosity, CHSF is able to be there every step of the way.
Family support in numbers
- 21 families received targeted family support
(11 of those families were new families for April) - A further 30 families engaged with the Family Support team
- 10 young people engaged with through the month
Financial Support In Numbers
- 21 families received travel grants (7 new for April)
- 9 external financial grants completed
- 40 Tesco vouchers given
- 4 exceptional grant given
12 Comfort & Care packs
given out to families on the ward
Cardiac Cafe Doncaster
We had a bumper turn-out for our April Cardiac Cafe in Doncaster with 22 attendees!
As well as young patients and parents, four adult patients attended, one bringing his own children, and the group formed connections over a WhatsApp chat.
Support for long-term families
5 families have been inpatients since Christmas
[Patient A] was admitted November 2024. They have celebrated Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, a birthday, Mum’s birthday, Mothers Day and Easter during this single admission. CHSF have provided support with travel, food, essential items, accommodation, a cinema day, bowling, external financial support, a listening ear.
Katie Bear teddy and medal, birthday celebrations, room decorations, wellbeing vouchers for food and a friendly face during our ward visits and wellbeing trolley days.
The support CHSF has given will never make up for the time the family have had to spend within the hospital walls but we have played a significant role in how they have experienced their time spent together, making this achievable and meaningful whilst believing that no time is wasted or lost when it is spent with the people you love the most.
Empowered young lives because of Lu
After building a relationship with Maisey and her mum during outpatient appointments, the family attended our Leeds Cardiac Café in March. There, Maisey engaged socially through crafts and developed new connections with the CHSF team, while her mum accessed one-to-one EHCP advice – gaining skills and confidence to advocate independently.
Inspired by the support she received, Maisey chose to knit hats for babies on the ward, wanting to do something for others “like her.” She now actively seeks out youth support during hospital visits, recognising it as a trusted source of comfort and stability.
Maisey’s journey highlights the real impact of meaningful support, empowering the family through knowledge, community connections, and resources.
It’s only with the help of our incredible supporters that we can continue to be there for every family that needs us. Thank you.
Maisy
Maisy was diagnosed with Down syndrome shortly after birth, and at just 7 months old, she had open heart surgery at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit. Her mum Laura has kindly shared their journey - from diagnosis, and the care Maisy received, to the support they’ve had...
Blake
Blake's mum, Chelsea, said: “My partner Matthew and I found out that Blake had something wrong with his heart when he suddenly was really poorly on 30th September 2022. “We took him to Chesterfield Hospital to be seen and Matthew and I were told he had sepsis,...
Nick Buckley: 125 miles for CHSF
After his daughter was born with CHD, heart dad Nick decided to take on the awesome challenge of walking 125 miles for the 1 in 125 born with a heart defect. At first, he thought he'd be walking along - but in April he completed his challenge with an army of friends...