Baby Ollie’s story went viral on TikTok and Instagram, sparking a huge 81,000 donations from different people, including Hollywood actor and Wrexham FC co-owner Ryan Reynolds, who donated £10,000
A 14-month-old baby has learned when he’ll be given life-saving heart surgery, after his mum edges closer to raising a massive £1.5million for medical treatment in the US.
Mum Jasmin Roberts has been campaigning to raise a huge £1.5million for her toddler son, after he was born with a rare and complex heart condition. The condition – known as pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (PA-VSD MAPCAs) – could limit young Ollie’s life to less than two years in total without the surgery.
Jasmin needed the £1.5m to pay for life-saving surgery in Stanford, USA, at the world’s leading centre for Ollie’s condition. There’s no option to have the surgery on the NHS, as the UK only offers palliative care, she said.
Now, Ollie’s mum has raised more than 90% of the total amount needed to cover the surgery in its entirety. After passing the 75% mark, Jasmin was able to contact the medical centre in Stanford and book a surgery date. Once the full 100% is gained, the surgery would definitely go ahead.
Today, she found out Ollie was booked in for the surgery on January 23 2026.
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Jasmin told the Mirror: “I can see the sort of finishing line, and I’ll just be glad when the fundraiser itself is over and I can sort of just breathe.
“I don’t want to jinx it though, because obviously just £100,000 is still a phenomenal amount of money to raise for anyone. So yeah, I’m feeling positive, but like I said, don’t want to jinx anything.”
Ollie’s story went viral on TikTok and Instagram, sparking a huge 81,000 donations from different people. Hollywood actor and Wrexham FC co-owner Ryan Reynolds donated £10,000, while Scottish author Leigh Rivers gave £110,000. An “anonymous angel” gifted Jasmin £15,000 last month.
Ollie’s mum also thanked the public for their incredible support in helping to reach £1.4m raised. When she started the campaign, it was a daunting task to chase down such a huge amount of money, and she still can’t believe they’re almost at the finish line, she said.
“The public have been really helpful,” Jasmin said. “They’re incredible and it’s just astounding how much they’ve all come together to help save a little boy’s life that they don’t know. I mean, it’s amazing.
“When I first started this fundraiser, it was such a daunting amount. I just can’t believe that we’re almost there. So, thank you so much to everyone.”
Ollie’s surgery would be a two-step repair of his heart, and if successful, it would mean he’d life a long and normal life. The first step needs to be completed in Stanford, before the NHS takes over for the second half.
“But he can’t have the surgery until the full amount is there,” Jasmin wrote on her GoFundMe campaign. “We just need one final push – one last burst of support – and then this chapter can finally, finally be over.
“Thank you for every share, every pound, every ounce of belief. We’re almost there.”
You can donate to Baby Ollie’s life-saving surgery fundraiser on GoFundMe.
