Baby born with half a heart fighting for survival in Birmingham Children's Hospital
The parents of a four-month-old baby born with half a heart who has never left hospital are 'praying every day' for her to survive.
Rosalie Heatherington has already undergone two complex heart operations and has a risky third operation coming up.
Mum Beth Heatherington, 19, from Stone, rarely leaves her baby's side and is now staying in an apartment near Birmingham Children's Hospital funded by the Ronald McDonald House Charities.Dad Connor Willdigg, 21, is driving back and forth from Stoke-on-Trent as he still works to support his family.
It was discovered while Rosalie was still in the womb that she had heart problems - but the family did not know how severe they would be.
Rosalie had her first operation at just four days old. She was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and has a leaky valve on the right side of her heart.Dependent on a hospital oxygen supply, she will now undergo a risky procedure to put stitches in the leak.
Beth's sister - mum-of-two Shalana Bond, 31, from Hartshill - has helped launch a fund-raising campaign for Rosalie's young parents.She said: "The leaky valve is the massive problem. We're struggling with that. Rosalie's next operation is in a couple of week's time. She's really dependent on oxygen.
"She needs to come off the oxygen because she can't live like that. There's no quality of life. The next procedure is very risky and the one we're dreading."It's really tragic. We feel helpless and that's why we want to raise money for her. Beth has grown up a lot - I take my hat off to her because I have two kids of my own and to think of what she's going through - it's crazy."It's just heartbreaking. She is there constantly. We live in Stoke and trying to travel there and back is hard. We all feel so helpless and that's why we want to do the GoFundMe for her."Shalana added: "Beth is doing fantastic. She's such a good role model. She amazes me every single day. She sits by Rosalie's side every day."When she does leave her, she waits for her to go to sleep. You always think it won't happen to you or your family. We pray every day - there's still hope and that's what we need to hold onto."