Jasmine, a 14-year-old from Southampton, has become a champion for medical innovation after raising more than £6,203 for a charity that produces 3D heart models for use by NHS surgeons. The teen’s fundraising effort follows her successful cardiac surgery, which took place exactly one year ago on 13 December 2025.

Medical Models and Patient Support

Jasmine was diagnosed prenatally with a rare condition in which her lower heart chamber was reversed. The condition, known as atrial or ventricular septal defect, required complex surgical intervention. After her operation, she was eager to give back to the charity that had helped her, as well as to support other patients in need of similar treatment.

Jasmine’s family had known surgery was a possibility, but the experience of the operation was described by her mother, Rebecca Bannister, as ‘horrendous,’ with the days following the procedure being ‘incredibly long.’

The charity Heartbeat, which funds the creation of 3D heart models, has been instrumental in providing these tools to the Southampton Children’s Hospital. Surgeons use the models to practice procedures before operating on patients, reducing the risk of complications and improving surgical outcomes.

Each model costs approximately £600 to produce, and the hospital has created more than 100 replicas from medical scans since 2019. Jasmine was even allowed to borrow her own heart model for a week before returning it to the hospital.

A Walk for the Future

Jasmine’s fundraising effort involved walking a mile a day for 26 days, representing the number of days she spent in the hospital following her surgery. The challenge was both a personal milestone and a way to support future patients.

‘I hope this will pay for more 3D hearts, so that more people can receive treatment and feel better sooner,’ Jasmine said, reflecting on the impact of her efforts.

Jasmine described the experience of holding her own heart model as ‘quite weird,’ noting that it looked larger than she had expected. Despite the surreal nature of the model, she said it was a powerful reminder of her journey and the support she received from the hospital and charity.

Supporting Patients and Families

Tanya Harder, fundraising and marketing manager at Heartbeat, praised Jasmine’s contribution, stating that the donation will help the charity continue funding initiatives like the 3D heart project, as well as provide support and care for patients and their families.

Jasmine has since returned to her passion for dance, winning her first competition and several other trophies. She described the experience as a personal growth journey, learning to face challenges and rely on the support of friends and family.

‘I’ve learned quite a lot about myself and how I deal with problems,’ Jasmine said. ‘I definitely have to talk about my problems, and I’ve learned that I’ve got lots of lovely people around me that can help me and that it always gets better.’

The Southampton Children’s Hospital has been at the forefront of using 3D modeling to improve surgical precision. With the continued support of donors like Jasmine, the hospital aims to expand its use of these models and ensure more patients benefit from this technology.

Jasmine’s story highlights the intersection of personal experience, medical innovation, and community support, offering hope to other patients and families handling similar journeys.