Heart girl's 'fantastic' recovery

Zoe suffered six cardiac arrests while waiting for a new heart

A little girl who suffered six cardiac arrests and spent 100 days on an artificial heart is making a good recovery after a transplant.

Zoe Chambers, two, had the operation in Newcastle's Freeman Hospital when she was 17 months old in June last year.

The toddler, from Hull, was born with narrow heart valves and was so ill she topped the European transplant list.

Her mother Julie, 34, said that less than a year after the procedure, Zoe was making "fantastic" progress.

The youngster was kept alive with an artificial heart, and doctors warned she had only weeks to live before the donor was found.

She had the 10-hour operation and astonished doctors with her recovery.

Remain positive

Mrs Chambers said: "When Zoe was ill we just took it hour by hour, day by day and tried to remain positive.

"While she was being strong, I was being strong and when she was fighting, I did.

"I don't know how I got through it to be honest. The artificial heart didn't look very nice but children are resilient and it gave Zoe an extra 100 days.

"Children cope a lot better than adults, she is now like a normal two-year-old, full of energy and walking.

"Her progress has been fantastic, the only thing is she still has a feeding tube but hopefully that will come out soon. I've got my little girl back."

It has not been revealed where the donor heart came from, but before the transplant hospital officials said Zoe's case was so serious that if a suitable organ was found anywhere in Europe it would be flown to Newcastle by private jet.