FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER, 2025

Photographs attached:

Photo 1: L-R: Pictured are Taylor Wilson (HCA, Children’s Clinic), Paula Lawson (Hospital Play Therapist), Lyn Hardie (Paediatric Cardiac Specialist Nurse), alongside Parker, Verity and Derek.

Family’s Fundraising Efforts Bring New ECG Machine to Tayside Children’s Hospital

Local family gives back to Ninewells after son’s courageous battle with congenital heart disease.

The Paediatric Cardiology Team and Ward 29 at Tayside’s Children’s Hospital have received an incredible donation of a brand-new ECG machine, toys and toothbrushes thanks to the fundraising efforts of a local family inspired by their son’s remarkable recovery.

Seven-year-old Parker Lindsay was diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD), endocarditis and Kawasaki disease in September 2024 after suddenly becoming unwell. Initially treated at Ninewells, Parker was transferred to intensive care in Glasgow on 1 November 2024, where he underwent three months of treatment before open-heart surgery in January 2025. Today, Parker is thriving and remains the inspiration behind his family’s fundraising efforts.

His mum, Verity and stepdad, Derek Milne, participated in two major events the Edinburgh Tough Mudder (15km) on 7 June 2025, which Verity trained for through Pilates and running, motivated by Parker’s courage. They also organised a Pilates Wellness Event at V&A Dundee, featuring Pilates, fitness, meditation, coffee, cakes and a raffle.

Together, these events raised an incredible £7,000, enabling the purchase of the ECG machine and additional gifts for children in hospital.

The ECG machine will be invaluable for patients across the paediatric clinic, assessment area, inpatient ward, HDU, theatre suite, and NICU, allowing more children to receive essential heart monitoring.

Verity shared:

“We feel lucky in ways words can’t describe that we are able to donate to the Tayside Children’s Hospital, with Parker here fit and doing well! We will never take for granted how different it could have been for Parker, and is for other children. Anything we can do to raise awareness and make things easier for the doctors, nurses and kids of Ninewells we will keep doing. The last year has taught us just how precious life is and that in one day your world can be turned upside down. It has changed our whole outlook on life and the way we live. We hope to continue to help as many families as we can affected by CHD and help children get diagnosed in those first early and critical days.”

The family expressed gratitude to their sponsors who made the V&A event possible Ambleside Plumbing and Heating, Amari Pilates Retreats, It’s Calm & Chaos, PWR Fitness Studio, A&J Autos, and Hilltown Electrical.

Contact:

Lisa Campbell

NHS Tayside Communications

07484594754