Make a big difference to little hearts this Valentine's Day
GOSH first opened its doors on Valentine's Day, 1852.
In the 172 years since, our researchers and clinicians have made incredible advances in cardiology, like opening the UK's first heart and lung unit in 1947, or pioneering the first heart and lung bypass machine for children in 1962.
Fast-forward to today, and more than 8,000 children like Ary, pictured above, are treated at GOSH for cardiac conditions each year. In 2022/23, this included 12 children who had open-heart surgery and 15 children who had heart transplants.
The cardiac team at GOSH do incredible work to help ensure little hearts can keep beating. But they need your help to carry on making heartwarming breakthroughs happen.
By supporting our Valentine's Appeal, you'll help to fund critical support services that help to give seriously ill children a better future. This includes:
- vital medical equipment and technology
- research into pioneering treatments and cures
- support for children, families and staff
- modern, child-focused spaces
Donate today and help make a big difference to little hearts this Valentine’s Day – and beyond.
Ary's story
By supporting our Valentine's Appeal, you'll help children like Ary.
Ary is a seven-year-old with serious heart. He's in year three at school and loves playing sports and running around. But his future wasn't always certain.
Shortly after he was born, Ary's mum, Shiva, realised something wasn't right. At a routine check-up at their local hospital, staff noticed his breathing wasn't normal and thought he had water retention following a very quick birth. What they didn't know was that it was blood.
Over the next six months, friends and family noticed Ary's breathing was very fast and he was consistently underweight. When Ary stopped eating, Shiva took him to see a private consultant and from there he received an urgent referral to GOSH.
At GOSH, Ary's consultant explained he had three holes in his heart. They were causing his lungs to fill up with blood as well as enlarging his heart and expanding his ribcage.
Ary needed urgent surgery to prevent further damage to his lungs.
“We read up on the surgeon and we found that he had done this breakthrough surgery, which was very impressive, so we were confident that we were in the best hands...”
Ary's surgery went well, and he was able to go home after just over a week in hospital.
“The care we got was just phenomenal, it was so personal and intimate," Shiva says. "The nurses and doctors really get to know your child. We couldn’t have had a better experience.”
Today, Ary continues to thrive and visits GOSH for regular checkups.
Help heal little hearts
Last year, clinicians carried out the 500th heart transplant at GOSH – and the incredible milestones won't stop there. We need your support now more than ever to help care for more children like Ary.
Please consider supporting our Valentine's Appeal today to help us keep little hearts beating.
Other ways to give
By phone: 0330 002 1514
By post: GOSH Charity, Bumpers Way, Bumpers Farm, Chippenham, SN14 6NG