In April 2022, our daughter Willow had open heart surgery at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Willow was in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for a week and the hospital is over an hour and a half away from our home. The Children’s Heart Unit foundation made our lives so much easier during a stressful time, by providing us with food vouchers, car parking and activities for Willow. They also helped fund (along with the Sick Children’s Trust) Scott House which is a home from home, based on the hospital grounds, so any parent can be at their child’s bedside in a matter of minutes. Willow made a full recovery and thanks to everyone at the Freeman Hospital is thriving. 

Last month, the unimaginable happened and during the newborn bubble with our son, we were faced with the devastating news that Ozzy also had a heart defect and would require surgery immediately. CHUF and all at the Freeman Hospital came to our rescue again by providing us with support and help at the drop of a hat. 

This year alone the Freeman Hospital have saved our family twice and CHUF has helped along the way.

Willow and Ozzy’s grandpa Mike has organised a Christmas light tractor run around villages in the area, to help spread some Christmas joy and raise money for this wonderful charity.

We know that it is a tough time for everyone but if you able, please help in anyway you can. No matter how small.

Thank you,

Lucy and Matt Shardlow

CHUF's mission is to make life better for children and young people who are born with or who develop heart conditions by providing lifelong support to them and their families. CHUF supports children and families who receive treatment at the Children’s Heart Unit based at the Freeman Hospital and the many other hospitals providing care for cardiac patients throughout the North of England.