THE mum of a little girl with half a heart is calling for Vale folk to help raise some money for the hospital that saved her daughter’s life.

Bethan Edwards was born with a serious heart condition called hypoplastic left heart Syndrome in 2004 and underwent open heart surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital at just three days old.

During her life the brave youngster, who is now aged nine, has had another three open heart surgeries, suffered six heart attacks and contracted two life-threatening bouts of septicaemia.

Mum Mandy Edwards, of Badsey Lane, Evesham, says it was touch and go for her daughter at times.

“She had a bit of a rocky start in life,” said Mrs Edwards. “With this heart condition they are now trying to keep her going to adulthood and then it’s more likely they can get a heart transplant, as there aren’t many heart transplants for babies or children. She will definitely need a transplant.

“We have been fund-raising for the hospital ever since. Having Bethan has changed my outlook on life.”

Mandy, husband Bryan and elder daughter Megan, have now raised more than £8,500 for the hospital including money raised from the sale of a book called, Bethan – A Year in the Life of the Baby With Half a Heart.

Mrs Edwards and her mum Janice Hurst have even set up an online craft store, Cosy Heart Crafts, and on Saturday, November 9, they will be holding a fund-raising craft fayre at Leedons Park, Broadway Road, Childswickham. The event will be opened by Evesham mayor Councillor Mark Goodge, at 10.30am and continue until 4pm.

“Last year we did the fayre at my house but this year we want it to be bigger and better,”

Mrs Edwards added. “It would be nice to raise more than £1,000.”

For more about Bethan’s story visit bethan.org.uk or look at facebook.com/cosy heartcrafts.