A mum from Luton whose baby son spent last Christmas in hospital in Birmingham, over 85 miles away from home, is sharing her story in support of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s 2025 Christmas Appeal.
The charity is on a mission to make Christmas as magical as possible for its sick kids and their families to make sure they don’t miss out on the joy and wonder of this special time of year. It’s not easy being in hospital during this time, but with the help of donations from the generous public, the charity can make sure that there’s plenty of festive cheer. From a special gift from Santa at the charity’s patient grotto, to the hospital’s wards shimmering with festive decorations, or brightening the long days of families whose children are spending Christmas away from home— it’s only thanks to the public’s support that the charity can make these moments happen.
One child Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity was able to support last year is little Lewis, from Luton, who spent his first Christmas on the hospital’s cardiac ward.
During a routine pregnancy scan, Lewis’ parents, Collette and Luke, were told the worrying news Lewis would be born with the extremely rare heart condition, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, meaning the left side of his heart hadn’t developed properly.
Collette and Luke’s world completely flipped upside down, but they were referred to their nearest children’s hospital where they were reassured with a plan for Lewis once he was born, which involved three operations to help mend his heart.
However, Lewis was born prematurely in September 2024 and when he was transferred to their local specialist hospital as planned, Collette and Luke were told he was too small to cope with the surgery and were instead offered palliative care for Lewis.
Collette refused to accept nothing could be done to help her baby and got in touch with Birmingham Children’s Hospital for a second opinion. The family were ecstatic when the cardiac team said they could help and, before long, they were transferred to Birmingham where Lewis had his first procedure to give him time to grow stronger before his first operation.
Collette and Luke stayed in hospital for the next six months with Lewis while he had three successful open-heart surgeries. This meant they spent Christmas there, away from home and away from the rest of their family.
Collette remembered: “It certainly wasn’t the Christmas I’d imagined. I knew we’d be away for a few weeks when Lewis was born when original plans for his surgeries were made, but never pictured his first Christmas like this. Christmas is a huge celebration for us as a Christian and Jamaican family. There’s usually around 30 of us all together on the day. But not last year.
She continued: “We did everything we could to make the most of it and the hospital staff were incredible. The wards were decorated beautifully and we even had a visit from Emma Willis and Aston Villa Football Club which felt really special. Then, on Christmas Eve, the nurses brought a big sack of presents for Lewis. I couldn’t believe how many there were; each had been carefully selected for him and funded through donations from generous supporters. It was like Santa himself had been.”
On the big day itself, Lewis’ two older brothers joined the family at his bedside, where they were able to celebrate together in their matching festive pyjamas.
Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’re so pleased Lewis was finally able to go home in March this year, and after a scary start to his life, is now thriving. This Christmas, he’ll be 14 months old, and the family will be back celebrating with all their loved ones, but sadly, many brave patients and their families will be facing the same experience this year.
“Alongside bringing joy and entertainment, donations play a vital role in creating welcoming spaces for families, funding life-saving equipment, and supporting groundbreaking research into childhood illnesses. Thanks to the generosity of the public, we can continue to provide the children in our hospital’s care with the best possible experience and outcomes.”
Collette said: “Being in hospital was the hardest time in our lives, but our faith in Jesus helped us through it. I’d really encourage others to think of all the children and families who won’t be able to spend this Christmas at home. Your support could help make a difference.”
If you would like to help make moments of magic for patients and families spending the Christmas period at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, please visit bch.org.uk/christmas or call 0121 333 8506 to donate or learn more.