A TODDLER born with a congenital heart defect is doing “amazing” after having open heart surgery earlier this year, her mum has said.

Seren Adams, who was born with a defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot, had to undergo the seven-and-a-half-hour operation in January, at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, when she was only eight months old.

Her mum, Emma Crook, from Glasfryn, in Blackwood, said: “She has changed so much – she is doing absolutely amazing. Before her surgery, she could not walk or crawl. Now, she is doing both.

“With babies that have a bad heart, the skin around their lips is blue – she doesn’t have that anymore.

“She was in hospital for around four weeks in January and then she got discharged. She just needs to go for regular check-ups in Cardiff at the moment.”

Miss Crook said Seren is now growing “really well” and that there are no concerns about her at the moment.

“She will be 18 months next week and is becoming a very healthy toddler,” the 29-year-old added. “She is amazing and full of life - she is like any other toddler.

“She has a funny character and a cheeky personality.”

Miss Crook, a sales advisor currently on maternity leave, called Seren’s surgery “the worst time of our lives”.

“It was really difficult while she was having the operation,” she added.

“We walked up to the shopping centre to try to keep busy but when we got the call saying the surgery had gone well and she was awake I burst into tears.

“She came out of the surgery breathing on her own, which is very rare.”

But the mum also said the family had received “great” support from family and friends, who, as the Argus previously reported, set up a fundraising JustGiving page to support them.

Overall, more than £3,700 was raised, with Miss Crook thanking everyone who donated, or organised charity events on their behalf.

The money was used to pay for their expenses during and after Seren’s surgery.

A further operation may be needed when Seren reaches 20, but it will depend on how she grows.