4 Defibrillators to the Heart Investigation Unit at BCH - June 2021

YAH has recently gifted 4 Defibrillators to the Heart Investigation Unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital for families whose heart children have been diagnosed with a condition that puts them more at risk of a cardiac arrest. We hope that this piece of equipment will help give those families piece of mind should they need it.

Having a child with Complex Heart Disease makes you appreciate how delicate and fragile the human heart is. Many children suffering from Complex Congenital Heart Disease have at some point experienced an episode whereby they have had a cardiac arrest. Unlike other cardiac events, sudden cardiac arrest does not discriminate and factors such as the victims age, gender, current health condition and ethnicity do not factor when determining the cause of cardiac

arrest. Combined with the immediate use of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), a Defibrillator is the only form of treatment for someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest. If a defibrillator is used within 3 – 5 minutes of a person collapsing, the survival chances increase from 6% to 74%.

INR Machine for Kian Barrs - May 2021

Young at Heart recently presented an INR Machine to Young Kian, this will enable him to self test and monitor his bloods levels due to being on Warfarin. When we asked Kian what this means to him he said "His Life" but the hug our Chair of Trustees received truly showed how much this meant to Kian.

Kians mom said "For Kian the INR machine means he doesn't have to hang around and wait for his appointment like when we go the clinics as he has said he struggles with the waiting as he hates it and gets fed up. Also with how the clinics are operating at the moment you have to wait outside and it's not fun waiting in the rain xx”

Dudley Gymnastics Club presented a defibrillator by YaH - July 2021

In July 2021 YaH was able to purchase a defibrillator for Dudley Gymnastics Club following a local fundraising campaign. One of our young heart warriors Lottie is a member of the gymnastics club. This defibrillator will give our heart mom and many others in the community peace of mind.  If a defibrillator is used within 3 – 5 minutes of a person collapsing, the survival chances increase from 6% to 74%.

Defibrillator for Heart Warrior Vinnie Holliday - December 2020

Christmas 2020, Young at Heart purchased and donated a defibrillator to Vinnie and his family, following the news that Vinnie is in heart failure, and placed on the heart transplant list, Vinnie is  at risk of cardiac arrest, we hope by donating the defibrillator that Vinnies family never have to use it, but will give them some peace of mind.

Vinnies Mom Claire wrote:

"As a family we have been Part of Young at Heart since Vinnie was born , Vinnie was born with hypoplastic left heart ( half a heart ) he has undertaken 3 open heart surgeries so far at Birmingham Children’s hospital . Young at Heart have been a charity I can turn for support and advice . I have especially needed them the last 6 months as we found out Vinnie was now in heart failure and was put on the  heart transplant list . Before we left hospital with Vinnie  after he went in for test for his assessment for a heart transplant , we needed to have CPR training as Vinnies heart  could stop at any time . As you can imagine this was so scary coming home with Vinnie . Young at heart donated to us a charity  a defibrillator , we had training on it and it has offered huge confidence for us , in hope we never have to use it but it’s at hand if we do which will give Vinnie a huge chance at life . What a amazing charity thank you "

Vinnie - Over Christmas 2021, Young at Heart gifted a new INR Machine to little Vinnie, after some training mom Claire is now able to test Vinnies Warfarin blood levels at home

Logan - Young at Heart gifted a new INR Machine to Logan in January 2022, this means that Logan will not have to miss school to attend hospital to have his bloods done