A brave Lancaster toddler has been publicly honoured with a ‘living tribute’ after fighting a rare heart condition.

Orla Wray was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool shortly after she was born, where she was diagnosed with a life-threatening, rare, congenital heart condition.

She underwent open heart surgery at just 12 days old to fit a shunt – a small tube designed to help blood flow in the right direction.

“It was the most frightening time of our lives. Suddenly all our joy turned to indescribable fear,” said her mum Alice.

Orla Wray with her mum Alice and dad Adam on the new 'living tribute' bench on St George's Quay.

placeholder image — Orla Wray with her mum Alice and dad Adam on the new 'living tribute' bench on St George's Quay.

Orla spent nine days in intensive care and a further week on a cardiac ward, before going home to Lancaster with mum Alice and dad Adam at 24 days old, thanks to a revolutionary new home monitoring service developed at Alder Hey called Little Hearts at Home.

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

Now, Orla’s extraordinary journey is being recognised in a public way, and Lancaster City Council teams were more than happy to help out.

A bright red bench has been installed on St George’s Quay near to the Maritime Museum by the council in collaboration with the British Heart Foundation as a ‘living tribute’ to one-year-old Orla, celebrating her courage and shining a spotlight on those living with cardiovascular disease, including congenital heart defects.

“It’s so special having a red bench to celebrate Orla,” said Alice. “It’s lovely to have a place to go to sit and remember the journey we’ve been on as a family.

“Adam and I also love the idea that Orla’s bench could encourage people to sit, reflect or start conversations about heart health. It’s such an important subject that needs to be spoken about more.”

The Wray 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 specialists.

In November, we reported how Orla was also honoured at the British Heart Foundation’s Heart Hero Awards in London.