Heart op schoolgirl calls for runners for charity (From The Argus)

Heart op schoolgirl calls for runners for charity

3:40pm Sunday 1st May 2011 in News By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter

A girl with just half a working heart who underwent pioneering treatment to save her life is backing a fundraising campaign for a charity which helped her.

Amy Morrell, 12, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare and untreatable defect that leaves her breathless and with poor circulation.

The youngster had to have open heart surgery at just a few days old followed by another at six months.

When she was four, she became a world first when doctors at Guy's Hospital in London used breakthrough technology to check whether her heart was ready for a third operation.

The operation was a success and Amy was able to return home and get on with her life.

She is calling on people to take part in a charity run on Worthing seafront on May 22 in aid of the Little Hearts Matter charity.

Little Hearts Matter works with the children and their families to help give them every chance of a happy and fulfilling life.

People can choose to run either a 5km or 10km course and there is also a fun run for children.

To register, visit www.lhm.org.uk.