Amalie’s story

Amalie was born with a congenital heart defect and needed major surgery shortly after birth.

Before she was born, doctors diagnosed her with transposition of the great arteries and a ventricular septal defect, meaning she would need major surgery when she was just 18 days old.

If it wasn’t for science there’d be a very big hole in our family.

Matt, Amalie’s dad

Improving care for patients with congenital heart disease, from birth to adulthood

Amalie’s story reflects decades of progress in congenital heart surgery.

In 1961, most babies born with severe congenital heart defects in the UK didn’t live to see their first birthday. Today, with the help of decades of BHF-funded research, the picture is very different: more than 4 out of 5 babies diagnosed in the UK now survive into adulthood.

Amalie’s treatment was made possible by work from BHF-funded researcher Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, who revolutionised cardiac surgery and helped transform the lives of people with heart conditions. He pioneered the lifesaving arterial switch operation used to repair transposition of the great arteries, a technique now used by surgeons around the world.

Amalie’s story celebrates how donations can become a gift that keeps on living, contributing not only to scientific breakthroughs, but helping keep the people we love here for more Christmases to come.

This Christmas, your donations can help fund the next generation of research that saves and improves lives.