Ava

This is Ava, the three year old daughter of my friends who are on holiday in the Lake District. Her eyes reflect the zest for life of an intelligent, cheeky and healthy little girl.

When Ava was two weeks old, a team of 30 clinicians at Southampton Hospital performed open heart surgery on her tiny body. This was the first of a number of operations and crises including Ava's resuscitation after a heart attack. Seven long and exhausting weeks later, the family returned home. 

To say that Ava is precious to her parents is an understatement.