Hayley Raso Matilda’s Star opens up about brother’s battle with congenital heart disease

Gold Coaster Hayley Raso has opened up about older brother’s battle with congenital heart disease and how it inspired her ahead of her Olympics debut. THE TOUCHING STORY >>>

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MATILDAS star Hayley Raso was plying her football trade in the US when she got the call that turned her world upside down.

In 2015 her elder brother Lachlan, who years earlier had been given the all-clear for a congenital heart issue that had followed him since birth, was told he needed open heart surgery.

In the middle of a National Women’s Soccer League campaign with Washington Spirit, Raso had to follow from afar as her greatest inspiration went through his toughest challenge.

“I’m so close to my brother so to see him go through something like that was really hard, Raso, 26, said.

“Lachlan got really good at managing his symptoms and looking after himself … it wasn’t until he was older that we realised things were quite serious and that he needed surgery.”

Hayley Raso with brother Lachlan. Photo: Supplied

Raso learned the best way to support Lachlan was to do what she does best – play football.

“He said to me: ‘Keep playing football. When I’m out of my surgery … I just want to be able to watch you play’,” Raso said. “He was so concerned about making sure I was OK … he didn’t want the worry and the stress to be on him which is really telling of what he’s like as a person.

“He was so brave and so strong and that’s what inspires me about him.”

Lachlan’s surgery was thankfully a success and now, at 29, he lives a normal life on the Gold Coast working as a civil engineer.

The proud older brother to one of Australia’s top football talents has travelled the world following his sister’s career.

Hayley Raso of Australia during the Women's International Friendly match between Sweden and Australia (Photo by David Lidstrom/Getty Images)

His Instagram is littered with travels to US football stadiums to support Raso through her NWSL stint and in 2019, the family was in France to watch Raso in action at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

It was an emotional time for all involved, watching Raso return for the Matildas less than 12 months after breaking her back in a career-threatening collision while playing for the Portland Thorns in August 2018.

It was Lachlan’s turn to support his sister through her biggest hurdle, as she battled through a gruelling rehabilitation process thousands of kilometres from her Gold Coast home.

Just like they had three years earlier, the pair helped each other through.

“Him going through his heart surgery, I saw how strong and brave he was and I think that inspired me with my back injury to be the same,” Raso said.

Hayley Raso playing for Portland Thorns FC in 2017. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Raso’s injury could have defined her career for all the wrong reasons. Instead it further fuelled her desire to make it to the Olympics after missing selection in 2016.

With football and family so intertwined in Raso’s life, it’s no surprise that even as the Everton star prepares for perhaps the biggest stage of her stellar career, she is working to raise awareness for congenital heart disease as an ambassador for HeartKids.

“Congenital heart disease not only affects the person, it also affects the family and those going through it (with them),” she said.

“It’s a lifelong journey. I’m on board to help as much as I can in raising awareness and funds for HeartKids.”

Japan’s struggles with Covid-19 means Raso’s family will not be in Tokyo to support from the stands as they normally would.

The Raso family in France during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Hayley’s brother Lachlan (middle). Photo: Instagram - @lachlanraso

But she knows they will be following every step of her journey from the Gold Coast.

“My family … would have been in England if they could have (while playing for Everton) and would definitely have been on the first plane to Tokyo,” Raso said.

“It’s disappointing they won’t be there in the stands but they’ll be up watching every game.

“When I’m playing in England and the games are on at 3am they’re up – they wouldn’t miss a single minute.

“They’ll definitely be my biggest supporters.”

Raso and the Matildas are currently in staging camp in Sweden preparing for the Olympics.

They fly out to Tokyo next week ahead of a final pre-tournament tune-up game against Japan.

The Matildas are drawn in Group G, featuring trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, number one seed USA and world number five Sweden.

Originally published as Hayley Raso Matilda’s Star opens up about brother’s battle with congenital heart disease