TWO-year-old Niamh O’Leary-Hyde has been inside more operating theatres and hospitals than most people would see in a lifetime.

Born with several holes in her heart, she had undergone several major operations within just weeks of being born.

At four months old she was given less than a 30 per cent chance of surviving. But now Niamh is finally well enough to take part in a cycling challenge to thank those who helped her pull through.

Her mother Sam O’Leary, 31, of Pulborough, 31, will be cycling in the BHF Bike Ride at Goodwood Motor Circuit this weekend with Niamh following behind in a cycle trailer.

Sam said: “Niamh was born in May 2017 and went home only to return in an ambulance two weeks later after she became really ill.

“It took doctors six hours to stabilise her. It was clear very quickly that Niamh needed expert care.

“She was in intensive care for two weeks. When Niamh was strong enough they were able to perform an operation to regulate the flow of blood in her heart.

“After the operation Niamh was still very poorly, but we were able to go home. Unfortunately, Niamh took a turn for the worse and after three weeks she had to go back to Southampton where she had to stay for nearly four months.

“The doctors diagnosed further complications in September 2017, Niamh had open heart surgery to try and repair some of the problems. We were prepared for the worst and she was given just a 30 per cent chance of coming through.

“We were even shown the life support machine she would be on if the surgery failed, so we could have a chance to say goodbye.

“It was a really traumatic and worrying time. Handing her over to the team who took her to theatre was really hard. It was horrendously nerve-wracking, I was so worried that we would lose her. The operation took nine hours and I remember how helpless I felt.

“When they came and told us she was in recovery I was completely overwhelmed. Her chest was kept open for three days before they closed it but it she was alive and still fighting and that was all that mattered.”

Since then, Niamh’s condition has stabilised. However, she will need further open heart surgeries when she is older. Her body struggles to get over common colds or infections and she is fed by a tube into her stomach.

Sam and Niamh will raising money for the British Heart Foundation at Goodwood on Sunday. For more information visit www.bhf.org.uk/goodwood.