LITTLE 16-month-old Mikaela is a bundle of joy, but mum Gemma Aston feared she would never reach her first birthday.

Born with a rare heart defect, baby Mikaela was always at high risk of suffering from Blue Baby syndrome – a condition caused when the heart fails to pump enough oxygenated blood through the body.

And last July, at just four months old, her worst fears were realised when Mikaela suffered a severe attack of the syndrome.

For the mum-of-three from Sling,it was an agonising time.

"I was given advice about what to do if a blue spell happened. I had to push Mikaela's knees up to her chest to cut off the blood to her legs so that it improved the heart flow," said Gemma.

"She was rushed to Cardiff Hospital where she had to be given morphine to calm her breathing. There we found out that she needed open heart surgery."

After a week in intensive care, Mikaela was transferred to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children where she underwent her life-saving operation.

However, even though the procedure was a success, a further two weeks in hospital was fraught with setbacks as little Mikaela fought for her life.

"She picked up a common cold during the operation, but her immune system was so weak that it became an hour-by-hour evaluation of her health," said Gemma.

"She had to stay at the hospital for two weeks, but finally she pulled through."

And with four-year-old Ella and two-year-old Kiyan to look after, Gemma sought the help of her own mum Jennifer.

"My mum was such a big help with Ella and Kiyan and I can't imagine how I would have coped without her," said the 30-year-old single mum.

"I was sat with Mikaela for most of the time over the three weeks, so there needed to be someone at home."

Now,Gemma is hoping to show how grateful she is to the staff and for the hospital facilities which placed her daughter on the road to recovery.

She is organising a fundraiser called 'Mikaela's fun day' at the Orepool Inn in her village at noon on September 1, in aid of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Partygoers can expect a bouncy castle, a lucky dip, a tombola, a range of snacks and face painting among much more.

"It's just to say a huge thank you to everyone at the hospital," said the mum, who was so close to losing her baby.

Mikaela faces further operations when she is eight and as a teenager.