All views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the authors. Youth@Heart accepts no responsibility for any offence or distress caused by reading them, they may contain offensive language and distressing content.

‘Over The Wall’ Influencing My Journey-Xander Cook

  Over the Wall (OTW) is a national charity, that is part of the international Serious Fun Network, the original American camp was called ‘A Hole in the Wall Gang Camp’ and was set up by the actor Paul Newman. OTW offer free therapeutic recreation camps for young people aged 8-17 with health challenges (https://www.otw.org.uk/criteria/) […] Read more

You Never Know When….

When I was asked to write this blog, I thought that I was too old to contribute as, although I was born with Aortic Stenosis (with incompetence), in 1971, it didn’t really affect me until I was 24ish! I led a very normal childhood, health wise, and was just told that I couldn’t be a […] Read more

Hopes and Dreams

We little appreciate how many hopes and dreams are tied up in the birth of a child, until something goes wrong. Their safe arrival represents and underpins so much – continuation of the generations, parental aspirations, pride and absolute unbridled joy. They link the past to the future and reinforce core belief that our children […] Read more

Ella’s Story

  My name is Ella, I am a young adult with congenital heart disease.  I was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries, it was diagnosed a few hours after I was born. The next day I had a hole blown in my heart to allow oxygenated blood to get around my body. I needed […] Read more

Alice’s Story (April 2010)

Hello, my name is Alice Lawson, I am 18 years and extremely lucky to be alive! I was born with a rare and complex congenital heart condition. Doctors discovered that my heart was transposed thereby pumping deoxygenated blood around my body, rather than oxygenated. They were initially unsure that I would live through the first […] Read more