Wolston boy born with half a heart raises thousands for hospital which saved his life

Samuel and his family have worked hard to raise the funds
Samuel Stables-Mooney after having his haircut.Samuel Stables-Mooney after having his haircut.
Samuel Stables-Mooney after having his haircut.

A Wolston boy who was born with half a heart and is raising money for the hospital which saved his life has been named as a winner of a Midlands law firm’s kindness campaign.

Samuel Stables-Mooney, aged seven, was born with half a heart after being diagnosed with a rare condition called Hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

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At just seven-days-old, Samuel had to have his first open heart operation and then three days later he suffered two cardiac arrests and had to be placed on life support for five days.

Samuel Stables-Mooney with his father Jim Mooney and mother, Angie Stables.Samuel Stables-Mooney with his father Jim Mooney and mother, Angie Stables.
Samuel Stables-Mooney with his father Jim Mooney and mother, Angie Stables.

His heart stopped for 29 minutes during the first cardiac arrest, and then for 11 minutes when he suffered a second cardiac arrest 90 minutes later.

But doctors at Birmingham Children’s Hospital saved his life and Samuel was able to return home when he was three-months-old.

He has since had two further open heart operations and will need to be assessed for a heart transplant in the future.

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Samuel and his family have since organised a range of fundraising events to say thank you to doctors at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for their care, raising more than £6,000 for the hospital’s charity.

The latest fundraiser has seen Samuel grow his hair for six months without getting a haircut, raising more than £800 for the cardiac care ward and the intensive care unit at the city

hospital.

Money raised will go towards buying new toys for children being looked after in the hospital.

And now Samuel’s fundraising efforts have been recognised by regional law firm Wright Hassall in their 175 acts of kindness initiative.

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The scheme has been launched to celebrate Wright Hassall’s 175 th anniversary and asks the public to nominate members of the community who have gone above and beyond to

support others.

Each month employees from the firm select a winner from the nominations who receives £175 to donate to a charity of their choice.

Angie Stables, Samuel’s mother, said: “The money raised, including the donation from Wright Hassall, will go to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity where Samuel has received

all of his care.

“Samuel calls it ‘his hospital’ because he has spent a lot of time there and if it was not for the hospital Samuel would not be with us today.

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“The care Samuel and we as a family have received has been outstanding.

“It is wonderful for Samuel to be recognised in Wright Hassall’s acts of kindness initiative and we are grateful for the generous donation which will help the hospital.”

Robert Lee, Corporate Partner at Wright Hassall, said: “Samuel’s exceptional fundraising efforts are helping other children have a better experience in hospital.

“His efforts are an inspiration to the community and he is a very worthy winner of our acts of kindness initiative.”

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William Graves, Regional Fundraiser at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity said: “Samuel is an exceptional supporter and over the years, along with his friends and family, he’s raised

over an incredible £6,000 for our charity.

“It’s wonderful that Wright Hassall LLP has recognised Samuel’s outstanding achievements with this fantastic award. Congratulations Samuel, truly well deserved.”

To support Samuel’s fundraising efforts visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/angela-stables2

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