Special baby Olivia celebrates first year

It is an important day for every family - but for one Shrewsbury couple their daughter's first birthday was extra special after she overcame a life-threatening heart condition to see it.

When tiny Olivia Austin was born, doctors had to break the news to parents Emma Draycott and Dave Austin that she had a heart problem called transposition of the great arteries.

They also found that her coronary arteries had not formed properly.

Olivia faced seven life-saving operations. But, 12 months on, the whole family - including Olivia's two brothers and sisters - celebrated her progress with a big party to mark her first birthday.

To make it extra special, a children's entertainer agreed to perform for free when he heard how the family faced financial hardship after Mr Austin lost his job.

He had lost his job because of the amount of time he had to take off work in order to spend it with Olivia when she was in hospital.

The Magical Mad Hatter performed magic tricks in a bid to entertain the whole family yesterday at their home in Castlefields.

Miss Draycott said the family was very grateful to the children's entertainer and wanted to thank him for volunteering his services.

She said: "It was really nice. The party was lovely and she was spoilt.

"She probably thought 'what's going on' but she had a lovely day.

"We invited close friends and family who had supported her through her stay in Birmingham."

She added: "The Magical Mad Hatter was brilliant.

"He bought her a present and did a magic show for the children and then he gave Olivia a cake."

She added Olivia was doing well now and, although she was small for her age and is tube-fed, doctors are very happy with her progress.

"They are going to see how she goes as she gets older but she may need a heart transplant later in life," she said.

After Olivia was born at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, doctors said she needed to be transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

However, because Olivia proved to be so ill the Birmingham hospital had to send a special team of surgeons to Shrewsbury to operate straight away.

Talking about the party Miss Draycott said: "It was an emotional day but also very special because we were glad she had reached it as we didn't think she would."