Family trying to raise £120,000 to send their seriously ill baby to the US for life-saving surgery smash their target after Harry Redknapp encourages his Instagram followers to pledge support
- Michael Labuschagne, from Bristol, has a heart tumour called a cardiac fibroma
- Doctors placed him in an induced coma and warned his parents that he may die
- The rare tumour, for which there is no NHS treatment, can cause his heart to race
- His family have found a hospital in Massachusetts which can remove the tumour
- They began fundraising the six-figure sum to send Michael there on October 11
- Now they’ve managed to raise around £155,000 with the help of Harry Redknapp
A severely-ill baby boy can now travel to the US for a life-saving operation after his family smashed their target of raising £120,000.
Michael Labuschagne, from Bristol, has a rare heart tumour, which caused him to suffer a cardiac arrest when he was just 14-weeks-old.
Doctors were forced to put him in an induced coma and warned his parents there was a chance he would never wake.
However, Michael defied the odds to pull through – only for his mother Emma and father Stuart to be told he had a cardiac fibroma.
The rare tumour, for which there is no NHS treatment, can cause his pulse to race dangerously fast. He has a pacemaker to keep it under control.
His family found a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts which can remove the tumour, and began fundraising the six-figure sum to send him there on October 11.
And now, after I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here winner Harry Redknapp stepped in, they’ve managed to raise more than £155,000.
Michael Labuschagne, from Bristol, has a rare heart tumour, which caused him to suffer a cardiac arrest when he was just 14-weeks-old (pictured in hospital)
Doctors were forced to put him in an induced coma and warned his parents there was a chance he would never wake. However, Michael defied the odds to pull through – only for his mother Emma and father Stuart to be told he had a cardiac fibroma (pictured as a family)
His family found a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts which can remove the tumour, and began fundraising the six-figure sum to send him there on October 11. And now, after Harry Redknapp (pictured) stepped in, they’ve managed to raise more than £155,000
Mrs Labuschagne said they hope to travel to Boston Children’s Hospital in March or April but no plans have been decided yet.
Discussing the success of the fundraising campaign, the 27-year-old said: ‘It’s truly overwhelming. Harry Redknapp is just so lovely.’
She also praised the ‘incredible young man’ Han-Noah Massengo, a Bristol City FC player who helped raise awareness.
Redknapp, a former football manager, posted an appeal to his 1.2million Instagram followers. More than 4,500 people have now donated.
He said: ‘Please help us. We’re trying to raise money to send young Michael for the treatment he needs so urgently.
‘America is the only place he can get the treatment he needs for this very rare tumour that he has on his heart, and we need your help. Please donate generously.’
The story of Michael’s struggles made headlines around the world – including in the US
He was rushed to hospital seven months ago when he woke up gasping for air after suffering a cardiac arrest. After waking up from the coma, his parents were told there was a high chance their baby had suffered brain damage
A scan revealed that this wasn’t the case – however, his family were given the news that he did have a cardiac fibroma. The tumour can interfere with the way the heart works, blocking blood flow to vital organs and causing an abnormal rhythm
WHAT IS A CARDIAC FIBROMA?
The tumour can interfere with the way the heart works, blocking blood flow to vital organs and causing an abnormal rhythm.
Fibromas are the second most common heart tumour, accounting for 14 per cent of cardiac tumours in children, according to Boston Children’s Hospital.
They may obstruct blood flow and are often linked with arrhythmias and ventricular tachycardia – when the heart beats faster than normal.
Michael was fitted with a pacemaker after waking up from the coma, which should help control his heart rhythm.
But unfortunately, because he is so small, the pacemaker restricts his movement. Currently, he is unable to sit up or support his own head.
Only 200 cases of cardiac fibroma have been recorded in medical literature to date, figures suggest.
Mother-of-three Mrs Labuschagne, 27, added: ‘We cannot believe the generosity we have been shown.
‘We are absolutely blown away with the response but it still hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s an extremely emotional time and we are so thankful for everyone’s support.
‘As a family we will need a bit of time to process this, as this is just the beginning of Michael’s journey.
‘We have been inundated with support from all over the world and I don’t know how we can ever make it up to you all. It’s been incredible and completely unexpected.
‘Nobody will ever understand the difference they’ve made to our families life – we are eternally grateful.’
The story of Michael’s struggles made headlines around the world – including in the US.
He was rushed to hospital seven months ago when he woke up gasping for air after suffering a cardiac arrest.
After waking up from the coma, his parents were told there was a high chance their baby had suffered brain damage.
A scan revealed that this wasn’t the case – however, his family were given the news that he did have a cardiac fibroma.
The tumour can interfere with the way the heart works, blocking blood flow to vital organs and causing an abnormal rhythm.
Fibromas are the second most common heart tumour, accounting for 14 per cent of cardiac tumours in children, according to Boston Children’s Hospital.
They may obstruct blood flow and are often linked with arrhythmias and ventricular tachycardia – when the heart beats faster than normal.
Michael was fitted with a pacemaker after waking up from the coma, which should help control his heart rhythm.
But unfortunately, because he is so small, the pacemaker restricts his movement. Currently, he is unable to sit up or support his own head.
Only 200 cases of cardiac fibroma have been recorded in medical literature to date, figures suggest.
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