A boy who was born with major heart complications has cycled an incredible 33km to raise money for the hospital that has cared for him his entire life. Dylan Wilton-Jones, from Newport, was found to have problems with the ventricles in his heart during his mum's 20-week scan.
At just eight days old he underwent life-saving surgery at St Michael's Children's Hospital in Bristol which re-routed his heart's arteries and patched up the hole between its bottom two chambers. However, after becoming lethargic and developing a blue tinge to his lips known as cyanosis, he underwent further surgery at two-and-a-half years old to open up a pulmonary artery which had become dangerously narrow.
Although both operations were a success, Dylan continues to suffer from cyanosis when cold, tired, or not feeling his best - a sign that the blood flow between the heart and lungs is limited or obstructed. Despite his chronic condition, at the end of 2021 he decided to raise money for the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales which he said has done "so much" to help him.
Read more: Toddler sent home to die given escort from hospital by nearly 100 bikers
Accompanied by his dad Peter and little sister Nina, they took on a 33km cycle challenge from their home in Newport to the children's hospital, completing the first leg of their round trip in just over an hour and a half. On arrival at the hospital, based on the grounds of the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, they were greeted by a crowd of their family, friends, and members of the Noah's Ark Charity team for a picnic.
He was then presented with a goody bag from the charity containing a medal, certificate and a cuddly chicken, his favourite animal. The trio then set off to complete their challenge by cycling home. In total they raised an impressive £1,580 for the Noah's Ark Charity.
Dylan's dad, Peter, said: "You wouldn't know Dylan has a heart condition by watching him on that bike. There were a few hills along the route, but Dylan really pushed through. He was tired at the end, but we were amazed at how much we raised."
Dylan, now 10, remains under the care of the paediatric cardiology team at the children's hospital where he has become accustomed to making regular visits to the outpatient's department for regular check-ups and scans. When necessary, the team has also prescribed or amended medications to keep him well.
He is currently free from medication but continues to have annual reviews for monitoring at the hospital. He is expected to need another operation to enlarge his arteries when his symptoms return at some point in the future, but it's hoped that this will be his last.
The family said Dylan recovered well from his lengthy cycle and has now signed up for the Noah's Ark Superhero Dash in September with his family to raise even more funds for the charity, which relies solely on donations and gifts in wills.
The Noah’s Ark Charity supports Wales' first and only children's hospital by funding state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. It provides both practical and emotional support services for families and runs a series of initiatives to help add some fun and entertainment into hospital days. For more information on how you can support the charity's work by signing up for the Superhero Dash, visit www.noahsarkcharity.org/superhero-dash
