Last Friday was our monthly visit to GOSH, attending the Flamingo Ward coffee morning.

It’s always such a privilege to spend time with families on the ward.

We met an incredible 10-year-old Heart Hero on Flamingo (ICU) who showed us how he holds his Heart Heroes bear tightly against his chest scar when he needs to cough — using it for comfort and support. Moments like that remind us exactly why our bears matter so much.

We also had the joy of meeting Ozzie the therapy dog, who was bringing smiles to faces all around the ward.

Another special moment was meeting a 15-year-old Heart Hero recovering from surgery after unexpectedly being on bypass for 12 days. He loved receiving his bear and was very vocal about how important his bear and passport are to him. We made sure he was stocked up with plenty of procedure stickers.

As well as Flamingo Ward, we spent time in Walrus Outpatients meeting more families. Whether families are at the start of their journey or returning for follow-ups, it’s so important they know they are part of the Heart Heroes community.