A young mother from Wrexham who raised an astonishing £1.5 million through crowdfunding to secure life-saving heart surgery for her one-year-old son in the United States has announced the complex procedure was a triumphant success. Jasmin Roberts, aged 24, described the day of the operation as the longest and most difficult of her life, but expressed overwhelming relief and hope following the outcome.
The Journey to California
Ollie was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect known as pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (PA-VSD MAPCAs) when he was just two weeks old. Medical professionals in the UK delivered the devastating prognosis that he would be fortunate to survive beyond the age of two, as NHS hospitals lacked the specialised expertise required to perform the intricate surgery needed to save his life.
Faced with this critical situation, Ms Roberts initiated a GoFundMe campaign in August, which rapidly gained momentum and captured the hearts of the public. The fundraising effort received a significant boost from notable celebrities, including Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, who contributed £10,000, and Scottish author Leigh Rivers, who generously donated £120,000. Additionally, the UK-based gaming community Chaotic made a substantial donation of £100,000.
A Mother's Agonising Wait
Following Ollie's admission as an in-patient for nearly two weeks prior to the surgery, Ms Roberts accompanied her son to the theatre doors in California, where she had to entrust him to the medical team. The procedure lasted between 11 and 12 hours, a period Ms Roberts characterised as utterly terrifying. She shared with the Daily Mail that the support received over the past few months had been profoundly overwhelming, yet incredibly positive.
She reflected on the surreal nature of the fundraising achievement, noting that the sums donated by individuals were amounts many people never encounter in their lifetimes. The publicity generated by the celebrity contributions, particularly from Ryan Reynolds, helped amplify the campaign's visibility, especially given their proximity to Wrexham football club.
Surgical Success and Recovery
On Tuesday, Ms Roberts took to social media to confirm that Ollie had successfully undergone heart surgery, which included unifocalization, shunt placement, and repair of the ventricular septal defect. The surgeon reported that Ollie had performed better than anticipated, describing him as a little fighter. Currently, Ollie is recovering in the intensive care unit under sedation, with his colour already showing signs of improvement.
The next few days are deemed critical, but medical staff hold high hopes for his recovery. Ms Roberts expressed her immense gratitude to everyone who contributed, emphasising that their support had made this life-saving intervention possible.
The Road Ahead
While this initial surgery marks a significant milestone, Ollie's journey is not yet complete. He will require a second operation in the UK to achieve a full repair of his heart, which will enable him to live a normal life. This subsequent procedure, aimed at repairing a hole in his heart, is contingent on his arteries growing sufficiently following the California surgery. Ms Roberts indicated that this could take anywhere from three to twelve months.
In a heartfelt message, Ms Roberts conveyed her disbelief at the rapid progression from initiating the fundraiser five months ago to reaching this pivotal moment. She described the experience as surreal, akin to a dream, and expressed profound pride in her son's bravery and strength.
Pulmonary atresia is a rare congenital heart condition, occurring in approximately one in every 10,000 live births, with the specific variant affecting Ollie being even rarer. The condition impedes blood flow from the heart to the lungs, necessitating highly specialised surgical intervention.
