Chanel Murrish was just a minute old when she had to be rushed into life-saving surgery after she was born with half a heart.
She become the world's youngest patient to ever have heart surgery and her incredible bravery over the last six years have been an inspiration to everyone who knows her.
Doctors gave little Chanel just a five percent chance of surviving but the little fighter has defied all the odds and is now fighting fit.
Her proud mum, Fay, said: "We had been told there was little chance of our daughter making it and were twice offered a termination.
“But look at her now – Chanel’s proved over and over again what a little miracle she is. We still have to pinch ourselves that she is here and doing as well as she is. It’s like a dream come true."
Since her traumatic first few minutes, Chanel has survived a cardiac arrest, a stroke that resulted in cerebral palsy and a life-threatening seizure that has left her with epilepsy.
Fay was 20 weeks into her pregnancy when she and HGV driver husband, Michael, 32, were told Chanel had hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
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It means the left ventricle in her heart is severely underdeveloped and only half of children with the condition reach the age of five.
A further complication emerged before Chanel was born – intact atrial septum was weakening her tiny heart even further.
Her issues mean little Chanel, who is determind to live her life to the full, has to take even stricter precautions than most youngsters during the coronavirus lockdown.
But rather than wallow, the incredible six-year-old and her mum have been busy creating a video to inspire other youngsters in the same position.
More than 40 children born with life-changing and life-limiting heart conditions feature in the film which shows children ‘throwing’ a message of hope to each other while in isolation.
Mum-of-three Fay, who has worked tirelessly with the British Heart Foundation since Chanel's birth, said: "I had the idea for the video after seeing so many people take to social media as an outlet through the coronavirus and I thought it would be a lovely idea to make it look like we were all passing a message each to each other in their homes. even though we were all apart.
"Many of the children are high risk and a lot of them - including Chanel - are in the ‘shielding’ category.
"For children stuck indoors for so long and who don’t understand why it can get hard and I wanted to create something to make them smile.
"Many of the parents have messaged me since saying the children are watching the video on their iPads on repeat and love it which is wonderful and the aim.
"Hopefully aswell we are helping to raise awareness that lots of children are high risk through this virus and need protecting too."
The determined duo managed to recruit an incredible 43 families to take part in less than 48 hours.
Fay said: "It was fantastic and has given a real boost to all of us in these very difficult times. It’s hard for everyone but particularly worrying for those with children who have complex heart conditions and who face ongoing heart surgeries. Many, like Chanel, who will eventually need a heart transplant in the future."
Unstoppable Fay has also set up her own online heart support group - the Heart Family Group - to offer support, advice and reassurance to hundreds of other parents in the same situation.
In 2017 she won a coveted Pride of the North East Special Achievement award for her work.
www.bhf.org.uk
