Toddler opens his heart for charity

A Lincoln toddler who underwent major open heart surgery just a year ago will be commemorating the operation this week.

Logan Whiteley (pictured), who will be two in May, was diagnosed with Fallots Tetralogy at six weeks old, and underwent surgery just before his first birthday.

Along with staff and other pupils at The Old Station Nursery on South Waterside, he will raise money for children’s heart charity Keep the Beat by holding a Red Day.

On April 21, children will wear red as well as heart and red themed activities, such as decorating red hearts and red cakes, pass the heart games and hunt the heart.

As well as raising awareness and money for the charity, Logan’s family hope the funds will help Glenfield Hospital, which deals with children’s heart problems.

Glenfield Hospital serves patients with heart defects in Lincolnshire, and is the hospital was where Logan received his operation a year ago.

However, it could be closed down due to funding cuts on the NHS, which sees 11 of the heart centres in the country cut to six or seven.

The Whiteley family (from left) Logan, mum Stacey, dad Mick and baby Darcie.

Logan’s mum Stacey Whiteley said: “We wanted to mark the anniversary of Logan’s operation with a day of fun and fund-raising.

“To know Keep the Beat provides hope, support and information to families like ours means everything and we have full belief in Keep the Beat and its future aims.

“We’re so proud of Logan and he’s come on in leaps and bounds since his operation last April; he still faces the possibility of surgery in the future but he is a happy, active and chatty toddler who enjoys his time at nursery.

“He became a big brother to his baby sister Darcie at the end of last year and loves drawing and painting so will certainly have lots of fun decorating hearts ready for the fund-raising day!”

She added: “We never dreamt of needing a facility like this for our child.

“For the sake of our region and all the heart children past, present and future, please back the campaign and choose Glenfield Option A in the NHS public consultation for the future of children’s heart surgery in England and Wales.

“Everyone’s opinion counts, let yours be heard.”

— You can make a donation on Logan’s fundraising page.