Heartfelt thanks

Laura Dool recently celebrated her birthday with presents from her husband Chris and daughter Isla. As she told us, nothing too unusual there.

Except Laura was born with a serious heart defect and rushed to Guy's as soon as she was born. She has faced a series of consultations, periods of illness and operations that many children, young people and their families are only too familiar with.

Laura has been under the care of heart specialist Dr Rosenthal since she was born: "I know that without the first class care, understanding and support that Dr Rosenthal and his team provide, I would not be able to experience the wonderful feelings I have today. Remaining under the care of Dr Rosenthal as an adult gives me great peace of mind. From the day, full of apprehension, I phoned him to tell him I was pregnant, and he said 'I think congratulations are in order', the fear began to subside and I was able to experience a normal pregnancy and birth, with confirmation at an early stage that Isla had no heart abnormalities."

Dr Rosenthal added: "It has been wonderful to watch Laura develop from a frightened teenager to a nervous young adult and now into a confident and mature mother. Well done Laura!"

Instead of adding to Isla's "department store of clothes, shoes, toys, books and ornaments" at her christening, the family asked well wishers to make a donation to the Children's Heart Fund managed by the Charity. The generosity of friends and family raised £1,000.

To make a donation or find out how your legacy could help, please use the secure donation form, or contact the Fundraising Team on Tel: 020 7188 7744, e-mail: Fundraising Team.

Laura and Isla