A 14-month-old infant has been scheduled for life-saving heart surgery following his mother’s efforts to raise £1.5million for his medical treatment in the United States.
Jasmin Roberts, the mother, has been advocating to secure the substantial funds required for her son, who was born with a rare and intricate heart condition called pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (PA-VSD MAPCAs). Without the surgery, Ollie’s life expectancy could be less than two years.
The £1.5 million was necessary for the crucial surgery at Stanford, USA, which is renowned for treating Ollie’s condition as the NHS in the UK only provides palliative care. With over 90% of the target amount raised, Jasmin was able to confirm a surgery date at the Stanford medical center after surpassing the 75% milestone. Once the full funding is secured, the surgery will proceed as planned.
Today, it was revealed that Ollie’s surgery is scheduled for January 23, 2026. Jasmin expressed her relief, anticipating the conclusion of the fundraising campaign so she can finally relax.
The heartwarming story of Ollie gained immense traction on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, resulting in a remarkable 81,000 donations from various individuals. Notable contributions included £10,000 from Hollywood actor and Wrexham FC co-owner Ryan Reynolds, and £110,000 from Scottish author Leigh Rivers. Additionally, an anonymous donor graciously provided £15,000 to support Jasmin’s cause.
Jasmin expressed gratitude towards the generous public for their overwhelming support in raising £1.4 million. Initially a daunting task, Jasmin still finds it unbelievable that they are nearing the fundraising goal.
Ollie’s surgery entails a two-step heart repair process, with the first stage to be completed at Stanford before the NHS takes over for the second phase. Jasmin emphasized the need to secure the full funding before proceeding with the surgery, urging for one final push of support to close this chapter.
To support Baby Ollie’s life-saving surgery fundraiser, donations can be made on the GoFundMe campaign page.
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