Brave op lad raises money from sick bed

May 3 2007 By Jane Tyler, Birmingham Mail

A BRAVE Birmingham boy is to fund-raise from his hospital bed, despite major surgery.

Matthew de Redman, aged 11, is to undergo a four-hour operation to have a heart valve replaced and a number of holes patched at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

He will spend one or two days in intensive care, a further week in hospital and then six weeks recovering at home.

The open heart surgery will enable Matthew, who lives with his parents Adrian, aged 48, and Paula, 38, and eight-year-old brother Joshua in Weoley Castle Road, Weoley Castle, to lead a normal, active life.

Last year he collected £1,522 for the restoration and financing of Our Lady and St Rose of Lima Church, in Weoley Castle, where the family worship.

Matthew is a pupil at Bishop Challoner School, in Kings Heath.

Dad Adrian said: "It's a whopper of an operation, but he will carry on fund-raising.

"He will be praying collecting donations from people from his hospital bed."

Adrian added: "Apart from the obvious benefit of prayer and consideration for others, I hope this will help keep Matthew's attention away from just how serious the operation will be."

He said Matthew's mother had also been unwell with kidney problems recently.

Matthew said: "I wanted to do something special for all the people who helped us last year when my mum unwell - this is my way of say thanks and helping the parish."