A PROUD mother has praised the efforts of hospital staff who have helped her daughter reach her first birthday.

Chloe Oldfield was born on January 15, last year, in York Hospital.

But next day doctors found she had a problem with her heart and she was taken to Leeds Infirmary, where she was operated on at only two days old.

She was put on a ventilator and christened in the hospital, but after five weeks doctors said she was strong enough to go home with her parents, Catherine Oldfield and Mark Leatherbarrow.

In November, Chloe went back to see a heart specialist, who was so pleased with her progress that he told her family he does not want to see her for another year.

Catherine, who lives in Spalding Avenue, Clifton, York, applauded the hospital staff for their hard work, and said the whole experience had meant Mark and herself had decided to get married.

She said: "I can't thank the staff at Leeds Infirmary, and the midwife at York who spotted the problem, enough.

"I relied on Mark. He was the one that was telling me to calm down because I had to get through this for Chloe.

"There was one day when she nearly didn't make it and that was awful, but three days later she was out of intensive care. She's a miracle."

Grandmother Linda Oldham also wanted to thank everyone who had helped.

She said: "It's all down to York finding it so quickly. If they hadn't spotted it I don't think she'd be here now. She's a happy baby who smiles at everyone. It's just a pleasure to have her."

Updated: 11:10 Wednesday, January 15, 2003