“Hello, my name is Joseph, and I am a cardiac child.
“I was born with my heart condition and what has really helped me throughout my cardiac journey is music.
“At the age of five, I joined Wakefield Cathedral choir – most of the time just staring at the ceiling and wondering what was going on. But as I got older, I started to enjoy it and that’s when I started singing.
“At the age of six, I went on tour for a week with the choir. Most recently, we went to Norwich and I got to sing at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Norwich Cathedral.
“At my school Christmas concert, I sang “We’re Walking in the Air” from The Snowman. Just before my voice dropped, I joined the Wakefield Cathedral Youth Choir where I sing alto.
“Because of choir, I’ve had the chance to sing in beautiful places, meet brilliant people and make lifelong friends – but I’m not just a fan of classical music. Along with Mozart and Beethoven, I enjoy singing indie rock and pop. Bands such as Lovejoy and artists like James Marriott.
“But as I am a cardiac child, I do spend a lot of time in hospital, and that means one thing – packing the old hospital bag. Usually I go for comfortable clothes, things I don’t mind getting dirty.
“Along with clothes, I will pack my headphones and a phone charger, just so I don’t have to listen to the constant beeping of the heart rate monitor across the hallway. I also pack a teddy bear. It may sound childish, but I think we all find comfort in a childhood companion – especially in a place like a hospital.
“Of course, if you forget anything at home, just ask your parent or guardian to fetch something for you.
“And that’s it from me! Enjoy the rest of your day! (That’s the end of that)
“Yours, Joseph”
Lucy, CHSF Family & Youth Support Worker said: “I have been supporting Joseph and his family for over a year.
“Everything from Lego building to working through his transition booklet, to making sure he could still have the Euro’s experience when his summer holiday got cancelled last year, due to him being in hospital with an infection.
“I have built a relationship with Joseph and his family to ensure they feel supported both in and out of hospital. Joseph came along to the Youth Day in August and is keen to be an ambassador for CHSF!”
Find out more about CHSF’s support for Teens and Young People over on our Youth Hub page
Family Support Update: Inclusion in action
Mansi Dass joined Children’s Heart Surgery Fund as Family Inclusion Worker in late June. Here’s an update from CHSF’s Head of Family Support, Sarah Cherry on how Mansi is dedicating her time to promoting inclusion, celebrating cultures and raising awareness to bridge...
Fundraiser of the month: The Jackson Family in memory of Roxy
In memory of their beautiful daughter Roxy, who passed away in hospital aged just six months old, the Jackson family took on a powerful challenge - a nighttime hike up Mount Snowdon! Surrounded by loved ones, they climbed through the darkness to raise money for four...
Support for families: August 2025
“The ability to listen when you’re going through a hard time. Kindness in providing accommodation and vouchers when your child is in PICU or HDU. Empathising with your emotions and being a friendly face. "The highlight for us was our child receiving a Katie bear and a...