AN ADORABLE three-year-old has received a new heart just 11 days after doctors prepared to withdraw treatment.

Sophie Maxwell, from Boldon, Newcastle upon Tyne, was told she needed a new heart on Christmas Day last year – but it wasn’t until a fortnight ago that a donor was found.

When doctors suggested withdrawing treatment for the little girl, who was diagnosed before birth with a congenital heart defect, parents Kerryanne, 30, and Ian, 40, were devastated.

The news came when she developed a severe blood infection while waiting for a heart donor to be found.

However, only a matter of days after doctors prepared to withdraw treatment, a donor was found and Sophie received the transplant.

Thankfully Kerryanne and Ian refused when faced with the possibility of withdrawing treatment for their sick daughter.

The couple had fought for Sophie ever since she was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at Kerryanne’s 23 week scan.

Just eleven days after the parents were faced with the impossible decision, a match for Sophie was found and she was wheeled down for surgery.

A heart transplant was the only thing on the family’s Christmas list this year and now two weeks later, Sophie is doing well.

The adorable little girl is now even smiling for photos.

Kerryanne, a full time mum of three, said: “It has been a long year for Sophie after being listed for a heart transplant.

“I was terrified when she was diagnosed with sepsis. On November 11, doctors even gave us the option to withdraw treatment by stopping her heart medication, but that wasn’t even an option for us.

“I have fought for her for three years and I couldn’t not give her a chance at a normal life.”

The heart transplant has already seen a noticeable difference in the little girl.

“She looks like a different child now, she finally has the new heart she desperately needed.

“Before the operation she was blue because her heart wasn’t working properly, but as soon as I saw her after surgery, she was instantly a healthy pink colour.

“It’s such a relief that an organ match was found, we were listed on the emergency donor list 10 weeks ago and it was all we wanted for Christmas.”

When a nurse rang to inform the parents that they had found a donor match for their daughter, they were in complete shock.

“It was a dream come true and although Sophie won’t be home for this Christmas, we now have the rest of our lives to spend this special time of year together,” they said.

“We are so thankful to her donor.”

Sophie was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart, at Kerryanne’s 23 week scan.

Despite numerous operations as a newborn baby, Sophie’s heart continued to worsen.

Last Christmas, she took a drastic turn for the worse.

Kerryanne added: “Her whole body started to swell and it wasn’t until a friend, who also works at the hospital, came over and saw the colour of her skin that we rushed her to hospital.”

“Sophie was so oxygen deprived her organs were beginning to fail and in December she was admitted to hospital.

“Sophie’s heart function was too low and there was no way to improve it.”

The timing of the heart transplant couldn’t have been better.

“We’re so lucky Sophie was given a transplant, as only a few weeks ago she was battling a serious blood infection which could have taken her life.

“She is such a little fighter and despite it all, she’s still smiling.”

The heart transplant took just over seven hours and Sophie will be on anti-rejection medications for the rest of her life.

Kerryanne added: “There is no simple fix for congenital heart defects and Sophie will need close monitoring for the rest of her life.

“But thanks to her selfless donor, she has the chance of having a future.

“We are huge advocates for organ donation now and hope our story inspires others to join the register.”

Read how other people have had their lives changed for the better through organ donations.

Sadly, Kirstie Tancock, who was the face of organ donor campaigns, passed away in December after two lung transplant operations were unsuccessful.

This moving video shows one girl’s plea for more organ donors.