Hollow Knight Month

Why I'm doing this

10 years ago, my son was born with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. As you can see from the images, he had to undergo life-saving heart surgery when he was just 3 months old.

Following the surgery, he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated, requiring further surgery. Things reached a point where nobody knew what was going to happen, not even the medical professionals. We were told that his chances of survival had reached 50%.

But somehow, my little heart warrior never gave up the fight. Against the odds, he pulled through, and today, he is a happy, incredible 10-year-old boy!

Over the past 10 years, he has had to undergo several more procedures, many of which involved keyhole surgery using cardiac catheters inserted through the groin. However, in January 2025, he needed another major open-heart surgery to replace one of his heart valves.

It was during this hospital stay that Children’s Hearts UK, also known as the Children’s Heart Federation, came to visit him.

They made such a difference by providing him with support and a little bit of normality during a time filled with stress and fear. They would sit and chat with him about his favourite things, play games with him, and help take his mind off everything he was going through.

They also gave him something called a Molly’s Dolly!

I showed one of these in the YouTube video announcing this event, but for those who haven’t seen it, it’s a teddy bear that shares the same surgical scar that a child has following their heart surgery. It’s a really lovely way of helping children feel special and giving them something they can relate to during their recovery.

My son absolutely loves his Molly’s Dolly. In fact, it has a permanent place on his bed and stays with him every single night.

This is why this fundraiser means so much to me. This isn’t just a cause I’ve decided to support, it’s something deeply personal. I’ve experienced first-hand what children with congenital heart defects and their families have to go through, and I know just how much of a difference the right support can make during some of the most frightening moments of your life.

For the past 10 years, it has been a long-term goal of mine to raise money for causes like this, helping the organisations that have made such a meaningful difference to my son and our family.

Now, through Hollow Knight Month, I finally have the opportunity to turn that goal into something real. By doing something I love, gaming, I hope to raise money to help other children and families facing similar challenges.

I honestly can’t put into words how much this means to me and my family.

If you’re able to, please consider donating to this cause. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, can help make a difference.

And if you’re unable to donate, that’s absolutely fine! Simply sharing the fundraiser and spreading the word is incredibly valuable, too.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read our story and support Hollow Knight Month.