A BOY from Malmesbury who has twice undergone open-heart surgery is walking from the Royal United Hospital in Bath to Bristol Children’s Hospital, to thank the doctors who saved his life.
Thomas Reynolds, 12, was just a day old when doctors diagnosed two holes in his heart and a faulty pulmonary valve.
He had open-heart surgery at Bristol Children’s Hospital at 11 months to repair the problem.
By the time he was 10 Thomas was a keen footballer, but he began to struggle to keep up with his team mates.
Consultations confirmed he needed further surgery and in June 2014 he had his second open-heart operation to fit a donor valve.
Thomas spent a week recovering on in hospital but was back on the football pitch just three months later, and won his club’s Coaches’ Player of the Season Award later that year.
To thank the doctors who gave him his second chance at life, Thomas is doing a ‘Second Chance Walk’.
On Tuesday, May 31, he and his father Chris will walk 16 miles from the hospital Bath, where Thomas was born, to Bristol Children’s Hospital to raise funds for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
Speaking about the walk, Thomas said: “Dr Parry, Dr Tometzki and Dr Stoica who monitor my heart and made the repairs and the rest of the amazing staff at the hospital have all helped me to be here today.
“The operations made all the difference and now I can train and play without any problems.
“I was lucky enough to be given a second chance at life but some children aren’t. I want to raise money for The Grand Appeal so that we can all have a second chance.”
Thomas’ father Chris said his son’s heart condition had never held him back and the surgery he underwent made “an incredible difference to Thomas’ life”.
“He was keen to do something to give back to the hospital,” said Chris.
“We hope the walk will take between six and seven hours and will be doing some shorter walks over the next few months to help him get used to the pace.”
Suzanne Maverick, community fundraising manager for The Grand Appeal, said: “Thomas’ enthusiasm for living life to the full and of course for playing football is clear to see and we’re so grateful to him for supporting us.
“All the money raised will go towards helping Bristol Children’s Hospital to care for even more critically ill children from across the south west, and further afield.
“We look forward to welcoming him and his dad at the finish line of their walk for a very well-earned rest.”
To support Thomas’ Second Chance Walk visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SecondChance
For more information about The Grand Appeal visit grandappeal.org.uk
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