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A baby has undergone a life-saving heart operation in the United States following a £1.5million fundraising drive supported by Wrexham co-owner and Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds. One-year-old Ollie, born with a rare and complex heart condition, went through an 11-hour procedure at Stanford Children's Hospital, one of just a handful of centres worldwide capable of performing the surgery.

The campaign attracted significant attention and backing, including a £10,000 contribution from Reynolds, who bought Wrexham AFC with fellow actor Rob Mac in February 2021. Since acquiring the club, the duo have consistently backed charitable and community initiatives throughout Wrexham and north Wales, frequently using their international platform to shine a spotlight on local fundraising campaigns.

Ollie was born with pulmonary atresia with MAPCAs, a rare and extremely severe congenital heart defect. His family had been informed by medical professionals in the UK and Europe that his condition couldn't be operated on.

With only palliative care available in the UK, Ollie's mother, Jasmin Roberts, who lives in Wrexham, launched a major fundraising campaign to obtain treatment in the US. Stanford was pinpointed as one of the very few hospi‎tals able to perform the complex surgery her son required.

The appeal rapidly gained worldwide recognition and eventually raised £1.5m, enabling the family to fly to California for the operation.

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In a heartfelt update posted on the Baby Ollie's Heart Fund Facebook page on Tuesday, Jasmin said: "Yesterday, Ollie's surgery was brought forward and he underwent his operation at Stanford. It was a long, brutal day, with the surgery itself taking over 11 hours.

"The surgery was a success. His team completed the unifocalisation, repaired his VSD, and placed the shunt. This means that the most complex stage of his heart repair is now done. Ollie is expected to have stage two in the UK in a few months' time, which will complete his full repair.

"Ollie has actually done even better than his care team originally expected, and he is now recovering in the ICU. His colour has already started to improve, as have his oxygen saturations, which is so encouraging to see. The next few days are critical for his recovery, but his team have high expectations for him."

She added: "I cannot put into words how grateful I am to every single person who helped make this possible. You quite literally helped fix my baby's heart, and that is something I'll never be able to repay.

"And Ollie, I am so incredibly proud of you. Thank you for being such a little fighter. I am endlessly lucky and grateful to be your mummy."

Since buying Wrexham, Reynolds and Mac have consistently intervened to assist individuals and families experiencing personal difficulties. The duo previously donated £6,000 to help disabled Wrexham supporter Aiden Stott fit an accessible bathroom.

Their charitable efforts have reached beyond the beautiful game, with backing provided to Wrexham Foodbank as the community grappled with the dual challenges of the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living squeeze. In another profoundly touching act, they contributed £5,000 in memory of 19-year-old Halifax Town fan Noah Brown to the Teenage Cancer Trust.