Melton Mowbray: Baby whose heart works at 20% to celebrate first birthday

Willow has dilated cardiomyopathy - a condition that affects the heart's ability to pump blood around the body

The parents of a baby whose heart works at just 20% capacity have described their daughter as a "little fighter" ahead of her first birthday.

Willow suffered a cardiac arrest at three weeks old and was resuscitated for almost an hour at Leicester Royal Infirmary last April.

Doctors feared Willow, who has dilated cardiomyopathy, would not survive, but she pulled through to defy the odds.

Her family said they have planned a "big bash" as her future is uncertain.

'Felt like 50 years'

Willow's mother, Chloe Gundle, said it had been a tough year, saying shortly after arriving at hospital last April, medics performed CPR for 50 minutes.

"She stopped breathing at three weeks old," she said.

"It was so horrific. It felt like 50 years."

Father Cole Seagrave added: "The fact that they told us she wasn't going to make it was so difficult."

Willow's parents have described their daughter as "loving and happy"

The family, from Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, said they were grateful to hospital staff, adding Willow "wouldn't be here today" otherwise.

The parents said after more than a week in intensive care, tests showed Willow's brain had not been damaged.

Ms Gundle said: "Doctors were amazed there was none, after being starved of oxygen for almost an hour."

'Incredible and strong'

Mr Seagrave said: "She made a comeback, and that's why we're doing this whole big first birthday bash."

His partner said: "We are so happy we get to celebrate her first birthday, as we can never be sure on the future.

"The hardest thing is we just don't know, so we need to live life to the full."

The family said they were grateful for the support and care from Leicester's children's charity Rainbows after leaving hospital.

Ms Gundle said: "We were able to be a family again.

"We were able to swim and sleep in the same room again, the things that a family should be doing."

They described Willow as a "loving, playful, happy and smiley" baby who has been "incredible and strong" since she was born.

More than a hundred people will be joining the family celebration on 13 April.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition that affects the heart's ability to pump blood around the body.