Dublin Zoo gives little boy with rare heart condition best day ever

A six-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a zookeeper has been granted his wish to meet the animals at Dublin Zoo.

Robert Patterson fed chickens, goats, sheep and pigs as part of a day arranged by Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK. The charity grants wishes to children and young people with life-threatening illnesses.

Robert, from Lisburn in the North, was born with a rare condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome which left him with only half a working heart.

He underwent his first heart surgery when he was two-days-old.

For his wish day, Robert travelled in a limousine to the zoo where he was greeted by tour guides who helped him feed some of the animals.

He was then taken to see his favourite animals, the rhinos, and listen to a talk at their enclosure.

His mum Caroline said: “The wish meant the world to Robert – he talks about it all the time and it has inspired him to become a zookeeper. It was a really positive experience and we have such happy memories of the day.”

Robert was flown to Birmingham Children’s Hospital on the day after he was born for the first of three operations to move veins around his heart to enable blood to flow.

He had his second heart surgery at four-months-old and underwent the final operation in August 2012, at the age of four. Robert is currently being monitored but is likely to need a heart transplant when he is a teenager.

Caroline said: “It was amazing to see everyone so happy, including Robert’s two brothers, Nathan who is four and Kyle who is 10. It was wonderful to enjoy every moment and not to have to worry about anything.”

* If you want to donate to Make-A-Wish Foundation in Ireland you can do so here and if you are living in the North or the UK you can contribute to Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK here.