Lancaster toddler with life-threatening heart condition honoured at special ceremony

Orla Wray, aged 19 months, was diagnosed at just one week old with double outlet right ventricle fallot type where her aorta and pulmonary artery are connected to the heart’s right ventricle (chamber) instead of the left ventricle.

This means the right side of the heart has to do the work of both sides, which can lead to mixed blood flow and problems in delivering oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Orla underwent open heart surgery at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to fit a shunt, a small tube which helps blood flow in the right direction.

The operation took four hours and then Orla spent nine days in intensive care and a further week on a cardiac ward.

She was allowed to go home with her parents Adam and Alice at 24 days old because of a revolutionary new home monitoring service developed at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital called Little Hearts at Home.

This meant Orla could be monitored from home with all the readings sent directly to clinicians.

The family are involved in the development of the Little Hearts At Home app, funded by the British Heart Foundation and Alder Hey Children’s Charity, which will support many other families of babies with heart defects to take their children home with the reassurance that they are being monitored by specialist clinicians at Alder Hey.

Orla was presented with her award by CBBC’s Dr Dan and Dr Raph Olaiya at a ceremony hosted by broadcaster Vernon Kay.

Orla’s mum Alice said: “We are so proud of Orla and so very thankful to all the team at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for their work in creating the Little Hearts At Home app and to the BHF for funding its development.

"It enabled us to begin our family life with Orla within days of her being born even though she had undergone major heart surgery.

“The impact on us as a family has been incalculable. When you have your baby, all you want to do is to go home and start your life together.

"This is what Little Hearts At Home allowed us to do with the huge reassurance that if any of Orla’s reading caused concern that we would get an immediate response from the clinicians involved in her care.

“It was wonderful to attend the award ceremony and for Orla to receive her heart hero award alongside the amazing innovation team from Alder Hey, who were with us on the night. It was very emotional and a very special evening for us all.”

The BHF’s Heart Hero Awards celebrate individuals who show extraordinary bravery and go above and beyond to help others affected by cardiovascular disease.

This year’s star-studded event honoured more than 16 fundraisers, community champions and lifesavers who displayed awe-inspiring courage by performing CPR in a critical emergency.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF, said: said: “The Heart Hero Awards shine a light on the most heartening stories — from those who raise vital funds, teach lifesaving skills, campaign for change, and lead pioneering BHF-funded research.

"The incredible and generous contributions of people like Orla’s family are helping us to achieve our vision of a world free from the fear of cardiovascular disease – which claims the life of a loved one in the UK every three minutes.

"BHF-funded research has already saved countless lives, but our job is far from done. The more we can discover, through the public’s generosity, the more lives we can save and improve — and give families many more Christmases together.”

Nominate your Heart Hero 2026 at www.bhf.org.uk/heartheroes