Fundraising event to help heart op Shropshire boy

The family of a five-year-old Shropshire boy who has undergone 11 heart operations have organised a fundraising event to help pay for his expensive care.

Travis Rogers, who has died twice while undergoing treatment before having an artificial heart fitted in a life-saving operation, remains hospital-bound in Newcastle-on-Tyne waiting for a transplant.

His mother Ann, 45, of Castlecroft in Stirchley, has been staying in a hospital owned bed-sit in the north east for more than a month while they wait for an organ donor.

She said: "It could be tonight or it could be three months, we're just waiting.

"I don't know whether I'll go home again. I've got to stay up here in case something happens and I need to sign consent forms. It's so expensive to travel.

"I've got two children, Drew, who is 18 and at New College, and Alex, who is 16, at Abraham Darby Academy, they both have exams I want to be at home supporting them as well."

Travis, who was born with a heart problem, had his first operation after only six months when he was fitted with a pacemaker at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

It was removed in November last year but his condition soon worsened, resulting in heart failure.

"He went downhill quickly, he would get really tired and in February was very sick," added Miss Rogers.

"They took him into theatre to fit an aortic valve, he died twice and they told me he only had an hour to live.

"Then he went into intensive care and pulled through, he recovered and came home for a few weeks.

"His condition began to get worse again and in April we took him back to hospital where they said he had heart failure. It was horrendous.

"They flew him to Newcastle Freemans hospital and he was fitted with a Berlin heart, it's a stop gap between heart failure and needing a transplant."

A fundraising disco will take place at The Venue, Hills Lane, Madeley, on June 24, from 7pm. Tickets cost £5 and are available from Susan Parry on 07790845078 or Eleanor Ravi on 07837542141.

By Paul Mannion