Meet The Team
Ebony Buchanan - Chair Of Trustees
My name is Ebony, and I’m a mum of two crazy girls and a set of very naughty twin boys.
My youngest Messiah suffers from a condition called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome which is also known as HRHS.
Messiah's first surgery was on 24 January 2023 when he was only 21 days old.
On the 9th of February 2023, Messiah fell into Cardiac arrest whilst I was travelling home to see my other twin son. This was one of the hardest times of my life but I will forever be grateful for all the amazing nurses and doctors who nursed my baby back to health.
Young at Heart has given me the ability to meet so many people who can relate to the struggles and joys of having a child with a heart problem. Volunteering at Young at Heart will allow me to help other families with children suffering from heart conditions. This is also my opportunity to give back to the people who have supported me in my hardest times.
Kayleigh Roberts - Co-Vice Chair and Safeguarding Lead
KayleighRoberts@youngatheart.org.uk
My name is Kayleigh I am a mom to 4 children Zoe, Jodie, Anthony, Lola-Rose, and the partner to Grant
My youngest Lola-Rose was born with a heart condition called TGA) is a serious, rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed Lola has had 2 surgery's 1 being open heart surgery at Birmingham children's hospital. Lola-rose is waiting to have 1 more surgery at Birmingham children's hospital in 2 years.
I am delighted to be a part of amazing charity that has done so much for us as a family and everything that Young at Heart does for all its families.
It’s so important that our children get to mix with other heart families and helps our older children to understand a little more about other children with special hearts. We and they have made friends for life and we can’t wait to be able to help out in the future with new families and existing ones at all the amazing events and fundraising that Young at Heart does."
Cat Hughes -Co Vice Chair
Hi I'm Cat, mummy to Violet and Rose, and wifey to Dan. Violet was born in 2015 with HRHS and PA. It was a shock and we didn't know until she was 12 hours old and being rushed to nicu before heading off to BCH! She has had all 3 stage surgeries.
We didn't know about or find our YAH family until 2021. We instantly felt like there was this whole other world where people just understood and got it. I'm hoping that I will be able to help and support young at heart with our ever growing heart family.
Claire Webster—Trustee
ClaireWebster@youngatheart.org.uk
My name is Claire Webster, I am married to Mark and we have one child, Thomas. Thomas was born eight weeks premature in July 2008 and at just three days old, we were given the devastating news that he had been born with a heart condition, Coarctation of the Aorta. Thomas was then transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where he was operated on at just four days old. Over the course of the next nine months Thomas had three further operations, the last one being open heart surgery.
April Obinna - Trustee
AprilObinna@youngatheart.org.uk
I am April and I am a single mom to 3 girls. My middle daughter, Lily was born with CHD, but despite many symptoms wasn't diagnosed until she was nearly 2 and a half and already in heart failure. We found Young at Heart about a year after and I realised how much support we had missed out on. This made me realise how much I'd love to help Young at Heart to ensure that no family has to go through this experience alone like we did.
Jade Couchman - Trustee
JadeCouchman@Youngatheart.org.uk
Hi, I’m Jade. I’m married to Aaron and we have two amazing children, Colt and Winter.
In 2019 at our 20-week scan, we discovered Colt had a congenital heart defect (CHD) called TGA, ASD and VSD.
It changed our lives forever.
On 14th June 2019 at just five days old, Colt underwent open-heart surgery to repair his heart – the longest day of our lives and one I will never forget.
He was incredible and recovered so quickly, coming home at 13 days old.
Today, Colt is thriving. He has check-ups every six months and takes medication to monitor a leak. We know further surgery will be needed one day, but for now he’s stable and doing brilliantly.
We found Young at Heart in 2020/2021 and have been lucky enough to meet the most amazing people and be part of an incredible charity.
In 2025, I became a Trustee to give back to the charity and the community that supported us through our toughest times.
Steph Freeman - Trustee
I am a mother of four children with disabilities, each with Special Educational Needs and complex medical conditions. My youngest, Matteo, is a heart warrior who received a late diagnosis at the age of two and is now five. My lived experience as a parent navigating health, education, and social care systems has shaped both my personal and professional journey.
For the past 12 years, I have worked in and around Special Educational Needs, complex health needs, and disability, supporting families through advocacy, guidance, and training. My experience includes SEN and SEND law, social care law, trauma-informed approaches to health, mental health first aid, and benefits support.
As a trustee for Young at Heart, I am leading the development of a new support offer for families. This includes guidance on Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), wider benefits, grant applications, and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), including appeals. My focus is on ensuring families receive the right support at the right time, with clear, accessible information and compassionate, informed guidance.
Emma Byrne—Friend of Young at Heart
EmmaByrne@youngatheart.org.uk
Hi my name is Emma and I am the new Treasurer for Young at Heart after being a Trustee for the charity for the last 3 years. Our daughter Niamh was diagnosed with Transposition of the Greater Arteries after birth. She had her first surgery at 1 day old and then had Arterial Switch operation at 4 days old. Niamh is our 4th child and our only child to have been born with a heart defect so this came as a great shock to us. Whilst at Birmingham Children’s Hospital we were passed on the details for Young at Heart and from that day they have been a great support to Niamh. I'm looking forward to working with the new team and continuing the amazing work of our predecessors
Jamie Lee Curtis—Friend of Young at Heart
My name is Jamie and I’m the mummy of Myla age 5 who has Double Inlet Left Ventricle, Transposition of the Great Arteries and severe Pulmonary and Sub Pulmonary Stenosis, this year Myla had a catheter and we thought it would be just routine before having the Fontan, but unfortunately Mylas lung pressures were to high, so Myla needed intervention and another catheter . This turned into a 3 week hospital stay with Endocarditis.
Chloe Woods - Friend of YaH
Hi my name is Chloe. I have 3 children, Naomi 19, Mollie 9 and Rory 5. Rory was born in March 2020 with a heart condition that went completely undetected until shortly after his birth. He was born with TAPVC, ASD and PDA.
He was transferred from WRH to BCH at 12 hours old, and operated on a few hours later. We were told to prepare for the worst, that he was so poorly that he probably wouldn’t make it. He was in a critical condition from the minute he was born, until he was about 7 days old.
He absolutely amazed the doctors and nurses and his Cardiac team, and is now at school and thriving. When Rory was 14 months old, we sadly lost his Dad to suicide. Young at Heart have been the most amazing support for me and my children, not only with Rory’s heart condition, but with the loss we went through too.
I honestly don’t know what I would have done without them. We are so grateful for all of the help and support they have given us. They have been our rock when times have been tough. Being part of a heart community wasn’t a path I ever thought I’d be walking, but I am so grateful to have made so many great friends along the way and walk the path together
Claire Welch - Friend of Young at Heart
Hi, I’m Claire from Stoke – on – Trent, I joined the charity back in 2014 along with my husband. Since then, we have enjoyed so many amazing days out and opportunities with the charity plus had so much support from the trustees and the other families that are members.
Our daughter started the DofE awards last year with the charity, she has grown in confidence since and I am so grateful for her to have that opportunity, she has just started her silver award.
Abbigail was born with HLHS and has had 4 open heart surgeries as well as many other procedures since being born in 2008. Abbigail has a 12-year-old brother who has also benefited massively from being a part of the charity, people sometimes forget what a massive impact these conditions have on all of the family, but Young at Heart appreciate how tough it is and take all the family into account when planning events etc. Without this charity we would not have gotten through some really hard times, and I am honoured to be a friend of Young at Heart and help families like ours.
Sammi Riley - Friends of YaH
Hiya I'm Sammi I have 2 daughters Es'mai 5 and Freya 20 months old. Freya was full term and weighed at a healthy 8Ib 10. She was a planned C section. At 2 days old whilst still in hospital Freya went blue and was rushed to NICU where she was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. We were told she would require open heart surgery between 3 and 6 months which was terrifying. Unfortunately her weight gain was poor and she'd have to wait much longer for her open heart surgery. In February 2023 Freya had another blue spell this time much worse and she got rushed to BCH. At that time she wasn't strong enough to undergo the full repair as we found out she also had Covid. At that point she had keyhole to put a stent into her heart to help the pulmonary valve. This worked really well and kept Freya stable. She was then NG tube fed to try and assist her weight gain. In January of this year it was planned for Freya to have her full repair. Freya ended up needing 2 open heart surgeries within a week and has since been recovering well.
Throughout the time we have spent in and out of hospital we have received fantastic support from Young At Heart in the hospital and at the many events meeting other heart families throughout the year. We couldn't thank them enough and I would love to be able to give something back and support the charity and other families going forward.
Geoff Brown - Friend of Young at Heart
Hi I’m Geoff, husband of Claire and father to 2 beautiful, amazing boys Alfie and Harry. Harry, our youngest was born in 2020. At the 12 week pregnancy scan we was told they had seen something concerning. 5 weeks later, after many scans and tests, it was confirmed Harry had congenital heart disease and was diagnosed with DORV, TGA, VSD.
He was born in April 2020 and at 10 days old he had open heart surgery and it was the longest day of my life. Surgery went well but the next day Harry suffered cardiac arrest, he was placed on ECMO (heart and lung bypass machine) and dialysis as his kidneys started failing. Harry made a good recovery and lives life to the fullest
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Myself and Claire first discovered Young at Heart in 2021 and have arranged 2 sky dives for the Charity and in 2024 I was very proud to get Young at Heart as my companies official charity for the whole of 2024
Alfie Donnelly - Young Ambassador
Hi, my name is Alfie Donnelly, I'm 11 years old and I have two big brothers called Pierce and Ethan. I have had 4 open heart surgeries so far at Birmingham Children's Hospital and I need more when I get a bit bigger so I need to eat loads to get big and strong. I like to play on my PS5 and watch YouTube my favourite You Tuber is "villa on tour". I am also a big Aston Villa Fan my favourite match was when Villa beat Leicester in the semi finals, but my mommy wouldn't let me run on the pitch with the other fans. I like helping Young at Heart because it's a nice thing to do and I make other children with poorly hearts happy.