Girl refusing operation supported

Hannah Jones had been diagnosed with a hole in her heart

A terminally-ill girl who has refused a heart transplant says she has received hundreds of messages of support.

Health bosses tried to force Hannah Jones, 13, of Marden, near Hereford, to have the operation, but she insisted she did not go through with it.

Court action that Herefordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) had previously been bringing has since been dropped.

Hannah said the support she received has made her "feel even better" she made the "right choice".

She has so far received letters and cards from well-wishers.

'Too much pain'

She said: "Some (are) saying that I'm an inspiration, some (are) saying that I've made the right choice.

"Everybody's been really positive.

"I've had too much pain, too much trauma, too much time in hospitals.

"Hospitals remind me of bad memories."

Hannah, who has a hole in her heart, had been offered a transplant in July 2007.

But she said she did not want to go through with it after taking advice from doctors.

She said the operation might not work, and if it did, it would be followed by constant medication.

Medical insurance

Her decision to refuse a transplant prompted the PCT to call in its lawyers, but court action has since been dropped.

Hannah's mother Kirsty Jones said: "Every couple of weeks I say to Hannah, 'are you sure you've still done the right thing? You can change your mind. It's not too late' and she says no."

The family's planned holiday to Disney World in Florida has been in jeopardy, because they cannot get medical insurance.

Her mother added: "Apparently we need either unlimited or £5m worth of cover, which is an awful lot of money."

Hannah said: "I would like it if somebody came forward with the insurance, so I could go out there.

"It would mean a lot to me."

The family had been planning to fly out on 1 December.

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Hannah Jones wanted to go to Disney World in Florida