Albanian girl's heart op success

Liridona arrives at the HCI Hospital in Clydebank

The young Albanian girl who was brought to Glasgow for heart surgery is now sitting up in bed and said to be making "amazing" progress.

Liridona Halili, 9, underwent a two hour operation on Saturday to improve the flow of oxygen to her heart.

A spokesman for the charity responsible for bringing Liridona from Kosovo said she looks healthier already, and she is tired but responsive.

Liridona's plight was discovered by a British soldier whose regiment is involved in peacekeeping duties in northern Kosovo.

Sergeant Simon Askew became aware of girl's plight

With the help of the British Army and a Scottish refugee charity, Glasgow the Caring City, she was flown to Glasgow before being transferred to the HCI Hospital in Clydebank.

Over the last week Liridona has undergone extensive tests, which have revealed a number of complications.

She will probably need at least three operations to improve the condition of her heart and a major artery before the hole in her heart can be tackled - a more complicated process than originally expected.

If all goes to plan, Liridona may have to stay in Scotland until early April.

Off the ground

Doctors said the first two-hour operation was successful and that Liridona was recovering well.

They are now hoping to proceed to the next stage of her treatment in two weeks.

Her condition may have gone untreated if it had not been for Sergeant Simon Askew, whose Prince of Wales Regiment is on peacekeeping duties in northern Kosovo.

He was introduced to Liridona by her father Hetem Halili.

"I then spoke to my doctor and from there the project got off the ground and has obviously progressed quite well," he said.

The private hospital has agreed to perform the surgery free of charge.