Tiny tot beats odds in heart-op miracle

PICTURE of health . . . Rebecca and little Scarlett

A MIRACLE baby has beaten survival odds after being born with only half a heart.

Little Scarlett Crowther has endured through two lengthy heart operations — including one at only five days old — to become a healthy child of nine months.

The beaming baby was born with hypo-plastic left-heart syndrome — a rare defect which left one side of her heart undeveloped.

The defect was picked up 20 weeks into pregnancy – when Oldham mum Rebecca Turner decided to go through with the pregnancy.

Days after her birth, Scarlett underwent a seven-and-a-half hour operation at Alder Hey children’s hospital, Merseyside.

At eight months Scarlett had another major operation when doctors attached a vein from her neck to her heart in an eight-and-a-half-hour procedure.

Rebecca (20), who lives with boyfriend Daniel Crowther (22), said: “When I hold her now I can’t believe how healthy and happy she is. She’s my miracle baby.”

Scarlett will have more operations between her fourth and and eighth birthdays to make sure the vein stays attached.

Rebecca added: “Her heart will never be fully formed, she will at least be able to lead a normal life.”