Shine for Shani

- Improving the health and life chances of children with heart conditions

Shani Berman was born with a complex congenital heart defect - a large hole in her heart and no valve linking her heart to her lungs. Surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital implanted a tiny Gore-Tex tube into her heart where the valve should have been in what was intended to be the first of a number of open heart surgeries to normalise her heart and circulation. Then at 20 months Shani suffered from heart failure and her family was told she would not recover. 
Yet, remarkably, over the next four years, Shani grew into a lively little girl, with a "magic heart". She went to school, made friends and was a happy, inspiring and joyful child.
From the time she turned 5 however, her oxygen levels depleted further, and the doctors decided to operate - tragically, Shani did not survive the complex operation.
Her family want to find a way to make Shani's memory into a blessing and to raise money to help Great Ormond Street Hospital and other research to help other heart children live full and happy lives.
They are currently aiming to raise over £70,000 to support a vital piece of cardiac research at Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Health.

https://www.shineforshani.org/