Physical Health United Kingdom Project #30686

Providing life-saving machines for heart babies

by Tiny Tickers

Providing life-saving machines for heart babies

Project Report | Sep 15, 2021
Test for Tommy - our ambition

By Katie Lawson | Head of Fundraising & Comms

Our Test for Tommy appeal is part of an ambition to ensure no baby will die from undiagnosed congenital heart disease (CHD). We named the appeal after baby Tommy, who tragically passed away from an undetected congenital heart defect on the 2nd February 2015 when he was 11 days old

When Tommy was born, nobody was aware that he had a serious heart defect. His parents knew something wasn't right, but despite voicing their concerns a number of times, Tommy tragically passed away when he was 11 days old. Had Tommy's heart condition, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), been detected during Natasha's pregnancy or before he was discharged from hospital, he could have had surgery - surgery that has a 99% success rate.

Natasha and Andy have worked tirelessly to ensure no other parent faces a loss like theirs. They funded a pulse oximetry machine at their local hospital and, with their support, we launched our Test for Tommy campaign in 2018. Named in memory of Tommy, through the campaign we aim to place pulse oximetry machines in all UK maternity units - so every baby gets the test that could help save their life.

Since launching the appeal in 2018, you - our kind supporters - have donated £13,450.78 in memory of Tommy. This amount, added to the total funds raised for our pulse oximetry project from other sources, means we have raised £129,084 since 2018. Every baby deserves the test that could help save their life.

We're delighted to announce that we've now placed 254 machines across the UK. Those machines will test over 250,000 babies per year, undoubtedly saving lives. Thank you for helping make this possible

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