Harri’s story

Harri’s journey started even before he was born, when his mum’s routine scan at 20 weeks revealed that he had a severe heart condition. Mum, Jade, remembers the mix of joy and fear she felt after the news. While she was thrilled to feel his kicks and picture the future they would share, but that future suddenly came with huge uncertainty for them both. Jade was monitored closely for the rest of her pregnancy at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales.

When Harri arrived, the diagnosis was more complex than expected: pulmonary stenosis, atresia, and an aortopulmonary window – conditions that would require the most intricate care. As if that wasn’t enough, Harri was also diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot—a serious congenital defect that left his heart unable to pump blood effectively. Over his early years, Harri underwent three open-heart surgeries and three dilations to keep his heart working. Despite all his hospital visits, Harri grew into a lively, active little boy.

Then, in August of this year, Harri faced another difficult milestone. His doctors scheduled him for a procedure at Bristol Children’s Hospital to replace his RV to PA conduit—a crucial part of his treatment plan. Although the surgery itself was successful, things took a frightening and unexpected turn. When his breastbone was being broken so that surgeons could gain access to Harri’s heart, they discovered that is was fused to the bone, and during the process, his heart sustained a slight tear. The injury caused Harri to have a stroke during surgery, and when he woke up, his life had changed forever.

Jade recalls the exact moment she knew something wasn’t right.  She said: “Harri’s had multiple surgeries before and as the levels of sedation are reduced, it’s not uncommon for him for him to start extubating himself. But this time he didn’t and I could feel in my bones that something was wrong.”

A CT scan revealed everyone’s worst fears – Harri had suffered acute ischemic stroke resulting in damage to his brain cells. He had lost control over his head, couldn’t move his left arm or right leg, and now relied on a wheelchair to get around. For a young boy who had always embraced life with boundless energy, the loss was devastating.

Harri was transferred back to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales for a rigorous 12-week neuro-rehabilitation program.  No longer able to do all of the things he used to do,  Harri started having outbursts and would struggled to regulate his emotions.  It was at this point that he met Bechan, a ward counsellor funded by the Noah’s Ark Charity. Jade says she noticed the change in her son almost immediately and over the weeks, Bechan has become a lifeline for Harri.

Bechan said: “Each session with Harri is different. I meet him where he is at and we go with what feels important to him.  We do a lot of imaginary play which helps Harri move through different emotions he is feeling at that time. He talks without realising he is talking about his emotions. Harri tells me a lot about the experience of being in hospital, especially about having spent his eighth birthday here, and missing his friends. I think what’s important for Harri is that our sessions are child led so he is in charge of what we do, whether that’s re-drawing work that he has done earlier in the day with the hospital teacher, writing stories, playing games, listening to music or drawing dinosaurs. Our session are about holding space for however he feels in that moment, and giving him a safe space to express himself.”

Jade said: “Harri sees Bechan most days, and he really looks forward to her visits. Since the stroke, he’s very particular about time, so he watches the clock, waiting for Bechan to arrive. She makes him so happy, but she never pushes him to do anything he’s not ready for. Instead, she brings things he loves—dinosaurs, painting, music—and somehow gets him to open up about what he’s feeling without him even realising it. She’s helped us both so much since we’ve been here.”

Bechan’s gentle persistence, creativity and warmth has helped Harri find his way back to himself, even in the face of his new limitations. For him, she is more than a counsellor—she’s a friend who reminds him of his strength and resilience.

It’s thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters like you that Bechan is able to make such a difference to families like Harri’s. Within her role, she holds a safe space for young patients, providing understanding and compassion to children facing unimaginable challenges. Thank you for making a difference.