A 14-month-old infant has been scheduled for life-saving heart surgery after his mother made significant progress in raising £1.5 million for his medical treatment in the United States.
Jasmin Roberts, the mother, has been actively seeking donations to cover the costly surgery 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 might be less than two years.
The £1.5 million was necessary for the surgery at Stanford, USA, which is renowned for treating Ollie’s condition. Due to the UK’s limited provision of palliative care, the National Health Service (NHS) was not an option for the surgery, according to Jasmin.
With over 90% of the required funds raised, Jasmin was able to secure a surgery date at the Stanford medical center after surpassing the 75% milestone. Once the full amount is reached, the surgery will proceed as planned, with Ollie set for surgery on January 23, 2026.
Expressing relief and gratitude, Jasmin remarked to the Mirror: “I can see the finish line, and I’ll be relieved when the fundraising is complete. While feeling positive about the progress, she remains cautious not to jinx the outcome with £100,000 still left to raise.
Ollie’s plight gained widespread attention on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, resulting in a remarkable 81,000 donations from various individuals. Notable figures like actor Ryan Reynolds and author Leigh Rivers made substantial contributions, along with an anonymous donor providing £15,000.
Acknowledging the overwhelming support, Jasmin extended her gratitude for reaching £1.4 million raised. Initially daunting, the fundraising journey has been a testament to the public’s generosity and willingness to save a young life.
The surgery for Ollie involves a two-step heart repair process, crucial for ensuring a long and healthy life. The first phase requires completion at Stanford before the NHS takes over for the subsequent steps.
Jasmin emphasized the urgency for reaching the full funding amount on her GoFundMe campaign, highlighting the need for a final push to close the fundraising chapter successfully.
As the fundraising nears completion, Jasmin thanked everyone for their contributions and support, emphasizing the importance of every donation and expressing optimism about achieving the final target soon.