Heart baby top of transplant list

Gabriella has undergone open heart surgery twice

A baby who may only have months to live unless she gets a new heart has been put top of Britain's transplant list.

Fourteen-month-old Gabrysia Filarowski from Leeds was born with heart abnormalities and has been on a transplant waiting list since October.

She has undergone open heart surgery twice and receives treatment at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

Her parents said it was particularly tragic because their daughter's only hope was if another child died.

Gabrysia has Double Inlet Right Ventricle, a very rare heart defect.

'Really traumatic'

Her mother Angela said: "Since Gabrysia was born it's been the most amazing time but always completely consumed by the stress of her condition, constantly watching to make sure we're alright, it just has been never ending."

She was initially being treated at Leeds General Infirmary, but was transferred to the Newcastle hospital when doctors realised that she needed a transplant.

The family now travel about 100 miles from Leeds to Newcastle every week where Gabrysia has blood tests.

"It is really traumatic. She's restrained and that's really hard," said Mrs Filarowski.

"Seeing her getting into that sort of state is really difficult for us because we've no idea what sort of pressure that's putting her heart under, which is obviously always our main concern."

She added: "Anybody at all who loses a baby or a young child, just how that must feel it's so awful, and yet for us it's the only way that Gabrysia can be saved."