04 Mar 2026
Psychologist, author and media mental health contributor Stacey Turner is widely known for her tireless work supporting emotional wellbeing.
As the founder of mental health charity It’s OK To Say, Stacey has dedicated her career to making psychological support more accessible, offering mental health education, community outreach, and free and low-cost sessions with qualified clinicians for people of all ages who might otherwise struggle to access help.
Over the years, Stacey has become a trusted voice on mental health in St Albans, Hertfordshire and beyond, advocating for open conversations, early intervention and compassion. Through her charity work, she has supported individuals, families and young people across the region and further afield.
Now, Stacey is reaching out not in her professional capacity, but for a family member who urgently needs help.
Her young cousin, Mia Elise, who lives in The Philippines, has a rare and serious congenital heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot. This complex heart condition involves four separate defects:
• A hole in the heart;
• Thickening of the heart muscle;
• Narrowed or blocked pulmonary arteries;
• Obstruction of blood flow from the heart.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare heart condition present from birth, where a combination of defects means oxygen-poor blood flows to the body. It can cause babies to appear blue, tire easily, and grow slowly, and requires surgery to correct the heart’s function.
Specialist paediatric cardiologists have advised that Mia must have this urgent corrective heart surgery. The procedure is being arranged in Manila, Philippines, which means the family must travel from Butuan and stay near the hospital for roughly 12 days, on top of the substantial medical costs.
While Mia’s parents are doing everything they can, balancing mortgage payments, car costs and daily living expenses, the financial pressure is immense.
Stacey shares: “These past few years have been very difficult for my family and me. I’ve spent a lot of time travelling back and forth to Australia, always leaving with my heart in my stomach with significant ongoing worry. Now we are faced with this, and the Philippines do not have a system like our NHS.”
She continues: “I know what it’s like to have a child with a serious medical condition. In fact, right now my daughter is home recovering from the first of two surgeries at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Even with our NHS, the financial pressure is a lot and very worrying.
“It’s not just the big things; it’s all the little things that aid recovery. If you do one thing today, please help me help my family.”
“This little girl is our precious princess,” Stacey adds. “As a family, we are rallying around her, but we cannot do it alone.
Any support — no matter how small — would make a meaningful difference.”
Those who know Stacey will recognise her as someone who consistently gives to others. Through It’s OK To Say, she has helped create safe spaces for people struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma and life challenges — often stepping in quietly behind the scenes to ensure individuals receive the care and attention they need. Now, she is asking the community she has supported for years to help her family in return.
If you are able to contribute, please visit the fundraising page created by Stacey’s aunt Brenda James: https://gofund.me/63cbf4524 or search Mia Elise Heart Surgery on GoFundMe.
Every donation brings Mia one step closer to life-saving surgery and gives hope to her family during a very challenging time.
