A family from Truro are featuring in a 12 day-long Christmas campaign for national heart charity Little Hearts Matter, which is the only organisation of its kind in the UK to support families when their child has only half a working heart.

Louise has a nine-year-old son Curtis who was born with only half a working heart. The family has received significant support from the charity and is now featuring in the national campaign to help raise awareness of the emotional and physical pressures of living with half a working heart.

Louise said: “Little Hearts Matter has been there for me every time I’ve needed them. Curtis has been very unwell recently and I’ve been sitting by his side, day in, day out in an intensive care unit hundreds of miles from home. I have never felt so alone and desperate. But Little Hearts Matter has got me through the last five months.”

The 12 day video campaign, starting on December 1, features 12 different families from all over the UK with the Truro family featuring on day 12 of the series. The emotive campaign, created by Little Hearts Matter, outlines the ways in which the charity has helped families feel less isolated during some of the most difficult times in their lives. The series also includes families who are learning to cope with their children’s limitations as well as families who have sadly lost their children to the condition.

Suzie Hutchinson, chief executive at Little Hearts Matter, said: “We are the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting these families. When they come to us they are in a difficult place – frightened, isolated and they often have never even heard of the condition their baby has. It’s difficult, but we are there – through every single step of their journey, and we never go away.

“This Christmas our aim is to raise even more awareness so that we can reduce this isolation and continue to help these families.”

To watch the campaign from December 1, go to facebook.com/littleheartsmatter.