Heart girl fights for her life

SALLY SLATER, the six-year-old given hours to live after being struck down with a heart virus, is slowly recovering in hospital today but remains very ill after being given a new heart.

Sally, from Malham, North Yorkshire, was in a critical condition and doctors feared she would not have survived the weekend if a matching heart donor had not been found.

Her parents will not know for 48 hours if the transplant has been a success following the seven-hour emergency surgery at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Doctors confirmed that Sally was "very poorly but improving". A hospital spokesman said: "The truth is that without this operation we simply don't know how long she would have survived.

The next 48 hours are crucial but she's in with a chance. Her parents are exhausted but delighted, as are all the staff. The miracle that they didn't dare believe would happen has happened.".

Today her father Jon Slater, 36, said: "If this heart is going to keep Sally alive then it is because of those kind people. We have no idea where the heart came from, or if it was in response to the appeal we made, or if the donors knew where the heart was going.

All I know is we will never be able to repay that family for giving my little girl a chance. It was not until about 11.30pm on Saturday that it was confirmed the heart was available. From then on it has been a nerve-wracking time for us. We are extremely grateful for everyone's help over the last few days."

Mr Slater said the family had been inundated with good luck messages from well-wishers.

They have been keeping their bedside vigil since last week and yesterday were able to watch their daughter through a glass screen in the intensive care unit.

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