Heart-op Zoe Croft's pals boost charity funds
A Shropshire schoolgirl recovering from a heart transplant operation is getting by with a little help from her friends - who have raised £1,200 for charity in her honour. A Shropshire schoolgirl recovering from a heart transplant operation is getting by with a little help from her friends - who have raised £1,200 for charity in her honour. [caption id="attachment_162149" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Friends of Year 11 student Zoe Croft, 16, who has recently undergone a successful heart transplant at a Birmingham hospital, raise money for the British Heart Foundation with a cake sale at The Corbet School"][/caption] Zoe Croft, from Myddle, near Wem, had a lifesaving heart transplant about a week ago. The drastic measure came after Zoe felt ill for several weeks complaining of a shortness of breath and other symptoms. Initially it was thought she had asthma or a viral infection, but it transpired that Zoe's heart was failing resulting in her having to undergo emergency surgery. Friends and fellow pupils at Corbet School in Baschurch clubbed together to hold a non-uniform day and cake sale to raise money, which will mostly be donated to the British Heart Foundation and other charities chosen by Zoe.[24link]
A Shropshire schoolgirl recovering from a heart transplant operation is getting by with a little help from her friends - who have raised £1,200 for charity in her honour.
Zoe Croft, from Myddle, near Wem, had a lifesaving heart transplant about a week ago. The drastic measure came after Zoe felt ill for several weeks complaining of a shortness of breath and other symptoms.
Initially it was thought she had asthma or a viral infection, but it transpired that Zoe's heart was failing resulting in her having to undergo emergency surgery.
Zoe's parents, Steven and Tracey, have been keeping a bedside vigil at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital and say she is now recovering following the major surgery.
Friends and fellow pupils at Corbet School in Baschurch clubbed together to hold a non-uniform day and cake sale to raise money, which will mostly be donated to the British Heart Foundation and other charities chosen by Zoe.
Zoe's friends said some of the cash they raised on Friday was to be spent on a special present to spur her on as she recovers from her ordeal.
Pupil Hannah Davies, one of the organisers of the event, said: "It started when she complained about chest pains. Initially it was thought she might have asthma or a chest infection.
"She eventually had and an X-ray and doctors later ruled it out.
"They discovered her heart was failing and she needed a transplant, which she had at a hospital in Birmingham.
"She is recovering remarkably well, communicating a lot better and talking more.
"She is even doing a bit of walking.
"Zoe is the type of person that would do anything for anyone else, so her friends wanted to do something nice for her."
Hannah added: "Money from the cakes sale will be split between the British Heart Foundation and buying her a present.
"Zoe has also got some personal charities she might want to support."
According to her parents, Zoe plans to go on to study at Reaseheath College in Nantwich, where she hopes to do an events management course.
By James Pugh
