Chichester schoolgirl undergoes major open-heart surgery in USA amid fundraising campaign

Eight-year-old Minnie Shaw lives with a rare congenital heart defect Ebstein’s Anomaly, and has undergone more than a dozen medical procedures and multiple major heart operations.

She underwent a seven-hour operation at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh last week.

Her parents, Charlotte Tugwell and Jesse Shaw, have since shared the news that surgeons were able to successfully re-repair her tricuspid valve using tissue from her own heart.

In an update shared on the family's ‘Minnie’s Broken Heart’ Facebook page, they said the operation had delivered ‘the best possible outcome’.

But Minnie has since endured a difficult recovery, needing strong pain medication to manage her discomfort. She had needed plenty of rest following the major operation.

Her parents said it had been the ‘most horrendous thing’ to see their daughter in agony and be unable to do anything other than comfort her.

The family added that there was still more they needed to understand from Minnie's doctors, because of the complexity of her heart condition.

“Minnie's heart is seriously complex, but one thing's for sure... she is the bravest, most courageous girl in the world,” they said.

In his latest video update, posted after the bank holiday weekend, Jesse said Minnie had made progress in her recovery, particularly after being able to get more rest.

He explained that the quieter environment in hospital, over the weekend, had allowed Minnie to rest and doctors to better manage her pain medication.

The family has also received encouraging news from the surgical team.

Jesse said: “We've seen the surgeons the past couple of days and they're very happy with the result of the surgery.”

He added that, while it was difficult to tell, Minnie appeared to be looking physically better.

The family is now hoping Minnie will be well enough to leave the hospital and move to Ronald McDonald House, within the next few days.

Jesse said this would be a ‘stepping stone closer to home’, although her discharge remains dependent on doctors being satisfied that her pain can be managed appropriately.

The latest operation comes after the family launched a second fundraising campaign earlier this year to raise £110,000 for treatment in Pittsburgh, following the failure of a pioneering heart valve repair Minnie underwent in America in 2024.

That operation had given Minnie two years of what her family described as a normal childhood, allowing her to smile, laugh, play and go to school.

However, doctors later discovered that the valve had not grown with Minnie and was failing, causing symptoms including breathlessness, fatigue and reduced oxygen levels.

The family's fundraising campaign eventually raised more than £120,000, allowing Minnie and her family to make the journey back to Pittsburgh for the latest operation.

Charlotte and Jesse have thanked everyone who donated, shared Minnie's story, organised fundraising events or provided support throughout her journey.

The family shared a photo of Minnie, outside the renowned children's hospital, on Monday, August 24.

"We made it to Pittsburgh for Minnie’s surgery!” they wrote.

“It’s been a lot – flat out! We are exhausted, but we are here.

“We are so immensely grateful to every single one of you who has been involved in making this happen!”

To see the GoFundMe campaign, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-minnie-back-to-america-for-lifesaving-heart-surgery