I'm taking part in #BigHeartedFriday for Little Hearts Matter.

Our youngest daughter, Harriet was diagnosed with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome at 20 weeks gestation and the first support material we were given was from Little Hearts Matter, it gave us hope and reassurance that there was help available to us and that we were not the only ones going through what we were facing. The printed materials we received were informative, realistic and super useful when explaining the condition as like many others, we had never heard of HLHS before!

The online support forums are invaluable and have been a real lifeline for us through some really hard times, particularly after her two open heart surgeries and after her cardiac arrest. We have made lifelong friends and have a real support network that understands what we face on a daily basis.

Harriet is hopefully due her next open heart surgery within the next year, this in the third in a series of procedures (this being the Fontan) that will allow her to function with a single ventricle circulation. This is only a palliative procedure as there is no cure for her condition but will hopefully allow her to function with increased oxygen levels.

Each year we like to find a way to give something back to a fabulous, supportive charity so that others can receive the same as we have should they ever need it.

Awareness is so vital for our children and LHM is brilliant at producing resources for parents, siblings, grandparents and even medical professionals to help everyone understand a variety of single ventricle conditions.

As always any donation is greatly appreciated 💕