Ryan Reynolds has stepped in with a life-changing donation to help a UK mother secure a critical heart surgery for her 13-month-old son, Ollie, after her emotional plea went viral on TikTok. The Deadpool star’s contribution surged support for the family’s fundraiser, which is seeking to cover the cost of a complex procedure at Stanford Children’s Hospital in California after doctors in the UK said they could not operate.
Ollie was born with a rare congenital heart condition that includes a hole in his heart and severe defects in his arteries. According to his family, specialists with the UK’s National Health Service could only offer palliative care. Following a review, Stanford Children’s Hospital confirmed that surgical intervention is possible, setting the family on an urgent mission to raise the funds necessary for the operation and post-surgery treatment.
Ollie’s mother, Jasmin, has been documenting the journey on TikTok under the account name OlliesHeartFund, where several videos have drawn wide attention. In a video posted October 21, she laid out the stakes with heartbreaking clarity: “Nobody wants to beg to save their child’s life, but I have no choice. This is Ollie. He’s 13 months old and he was born with one of the rarest heart conditions in the world. The NHS can’t operate, but Stanford Children’s Hospital in America can. The only problem is it’s going to cost us £1.5 million to get there.”
Reynolds’ donation followed shortly after the campaign took off online. Sharing the news in a new TikTok post, Jasmin wrote, “I’m in absolute shock. RYAN. REYNOLDS. JUST. DONATED. Because YOU kept sharing Ollie’s story. Because you made noise. THANK YOU!!!!” The moment captured a groundswell of grassroots support that has continued to grow.
At the time of writing, the family’s GoFundMe has raised more than $435,000 toward the costs associated with Ollie’s care. While the total target remains high — £1.5 million (approximately $1.9 million) — Reynolds’ boost has helped accelerate momentum and reach a wider audience across social media.
Stanford’s Surgical Plan Focuses On Saving Lung Function First
Per the family’s fundraiser page, Stanford Children’s will begin with a pulmonary artery reconstruction, the most urgent step in Ollie’s surgical pathway. Because his lung arteries are underdeveloped, doctors are not yet able to perform a full repair. The initial procedure is designed to improve blood flow to the lungs, allowing those arteries to strengthen over the next six to nine months.
This staged approach is common in complex congenital heart cases, where building lung capacity and arterial strength can dramatically improve the chances of a successful eventual repair. In Ollie’s case, restoring better blood flow is the priority — a move that could stabilize his condition and open the door to more definitive surgery when his body is ready.
The family’s decision to pursue treatment in the U.S. reflects Stanford Children’s extensive experience with rare pediatric cardiac anomalies. While the UK team determined surgery wasn’t possible there, the California hospital’s assessment has provided a clear medical pathway, contingent on securing the funds and travel logistics required for specialized care abroad.
Viral Advocacy Turned Into Real-World Impact
Jasmin’s TikTok campaign has become a case study in how quickly a personal story can move people to action. By speaking directly to the camera and sharing frequent updates about Ollie’s condition, she helped audiences understand both the urgency and the nuance of his medical needs. That candor appears to have resonated with Reynolds, who is known for engaging with fans and amplifying charitable causes online.
In this instance, the celebrity spotlight has not only generated donations but also lent visibility to the complexities of navigating care for rare pediatric conditions. For families facing similar circumstances, wider attention can translate to faster fundraising, institutional support, and access to additional resources that may otherwise be out of reach.
While the exact amount of Reynolds’ donation has not been disclosed, the reaction from Ollie’s mother — coupled with the rapid rise in funds — underscores how a single high-profile contribution can catalyze a community effort. The campaign continues to attract smaller, individual donations from people motivated by the story’s reach across TikTok and other platforms.
What Comes Next For Ollie
With Stanford Children’s prepared to proceed, the family’s focus is on crossing the financial threshold for the initial operation and the intensive recovery that follows. The pulmonary artery reconstruction is the first milestone; if successful, the improved lung blood flow could set the stage for a future, more comprehensive repair once the arteries develop over the projected six-to-nine-month period.
There are no guarantees in complex pediatric heart surgery, but the plan outlined by the hospital offers a medically sound route forward after the UK’s more limited options. For now, the viral push — and Reynolds’ timely donation — has turned a moment of online empathy into meaningful progress toward life-saving care.
Reynolds has not publicly commented on his donation, allowing the attention to remain centered on Ollie’s medical journey and the family’s next steps. As the fundraiser climbs, Jasmin’s updates continue to galvanize supporters, providing a transparent look at the challenges and milestones ahead.
It’s a reminder that in the social media era, a compelling plea can cut through the noise, and a well-timed boost from a household name can make all the difference. For Ollie and his family, that difference could mean access to a surgery once thought impossible — and a real chance at a healthier future.
