Mum of Ilkley heart op youngster says a big thanks to hospital (From Ilkley Gazette)

Mum of Ilkley heart op youngster says a big thanks to hospital

2:37pm Thursday 3rd December 2009 in News By Andrea Hardaker

A devoted mum, whose little girl is battling a fatal heart condition, is embracing the true spirit of Christmas by fundraising for the hospital which cares for her daughter.

Little Olivia Wilkinson was born with an irreparable heart defect, which saw her undergo 18 hours of surgery just weeks after coming into the world.

Since then, the ‘little smiler’, who will be two next March, has received palliative treatment and has recently undergone a second, ten-hour open heart operation at Leeds General Infirmary.

Now, her devoted parents Naomi and Shaun, who live in Gordon Street, Ilkley, are hoping to raise as much money as possible for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund by selling little bags of ‘reindeer’ food throughout the town.

The handmade bags, which are tied with a red festive bow, contain oats and glitter, which when sprinkled outside on Christmas Eve, attract the attention of Santa’s reindeer as they make their yearly deliveries.

Naomi said: “The bags are very popular with children and last year we sold around £700 worth.

“It is such a nice way of saying thank you and giving something back to the staff who have helped Olivia so much. Every single day is a gift with Olivia, but throughout everything we have been through we have received so much support from the hospital that we want to give something back.”

Olivia and her family first featured in Wharfedale Newspapers last August when Naomi and Shaun held a fundraising karaoke event in Addingham.

The event was a huge success and they raised more than £1,000 for the cause.

Naomi said: “The funds we have raised so far for the fund have had a huge impact on the facilities at the ward.

“Staff used the money to buy a new computer, a pill fridge and a milk fridge, which has made life for the nursing staff, doctors and patients so much easier. It would be wonderful to raise more money this year. It’s fantastic to know that it makes such a difference to the ward.”

Donations from last year’s sale of reindeer food were also given to the Heart Surgery Fund, which supports the children’s cardiac ward (ward 10) at Leeds General Infirmary.

The money enabled staff to buy sensory equipment which staff wind round children’s beds and cots to give them something to focus on when they are poorly.

Naomi said: “It really helped Olivia when she was in the hospital following surgery to have something to look at. But the equipment costs £500 for a metre of fibre- optics. Hopefully any money raised this year will enable the staff to buy some more sensory equipment.”

Olivia was born with a damaged aorta – the largest blood vessel in the body, which helps bring oxygenated blood to where it’s needed.

She also has only three out of the four chambers needed for a healthy heart.

As a result she has tired easily in the past and had to have a gastostomy fitted into her stomach to help to feed her because her heart beats so quickly that she struggles to put on weight.

But since her last open-heart surgery, carried out in October, Olivia has made dramatic progress.

Her mum said: “When they brought her back in she soon showed she was determined to recover and the minute she was given the chance to eat she wolfed down some Weetabix.

“Before the operation she tired easily and went down to bed on time. Now we struggle to get her to go to sleep. She doesn’t want to miss anything, she is a whirlwind!

“She is starting to talk and say ‘good girl’ and is always smiling. She’s incredible.”

Rabbit food for the reindeer bags has been donated by The Ilkley Pet Shop on Leeds Road.

Directors James Mulligan and Stuart Goddard said: “We are very proud to be asked once again to support this extremely worthwhile fundraising event. Olivia is a beautiful little girl with the biggest smile and it is difficult to appreciate the amount this little lady has been through at such a young age.

“The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund deserves all the support it can get to continue to help children with heart conditions like Olivia’s and also to support their families.

“We appeal to everyone to support this charity by buying a bag of reindeer food. Every single penny of the money raised will go to the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. In addition, because we are so passionate about this wonderful charity we will match penny for penny the total amount raised by The Ilkley Pet Shop.”

The reindeer food bags cost 50p and are currently on sale at the Pet Shop, Shoe Be Doo shoe shop and the Ilkley Cutting Emporium hairdressers.

Any other businesses who could accommodate the bags, or individuals who would like to donate to the fund are asked to contact Andrea Hardaker at andrea.h@wharfedalenewspapers.co.uk for details.