Plucky princess Jessica’s big day

Jessica Hart with her new dress.

PLUCKY Jessica Hart who has battled serious illness will be transformed into a princess tomorrow.

By the age of 18-months the Shaw youngster had already undergone two heart operations.

But her fighting spirit has defied the doctors and she has been chosen to take part in this weekend’s harvest festival at East Crompton St James’s Church.

The seven-year-old will be part of queen Rebecca Hewson’s retinue and proud mum Helen said: “She is so excited. It’s like a dream for her. She loves the dress and feels so special that she has been chosen.

“Jessica loves drama and acting and doing really girlie things. She has never been a bridesmaid or anything like that before so she is really excited.”

Helen was 20-weeks pregnant when a scan revealed that her baby had heart and kidney problems.

When Jessica was born at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, it was discovered that her heart could only pump at half capacity.

She was transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Merseyside, where she had open heart surgery at the age of two weeks and 18 months.

The East Crompton St James’ Primary School pupil may need further surgery and Helen explained: “Jessica is such a happy little girl. She just takes it all in her stride. Her friends really look after her and understand she can’t always do what they do.

“She suffers with the cold, her fingers and lips go blue, and she gets out of breath, but we try to encourage her to do as much as possible. The doctors said she could never go on a long-haul flight but at Christmas they allowed her to go to Florida. She has done better than the hospital ever anticipated — 20 to 30 years ago these children wouldn’t survive so it’s remarkable.” Tomorrow’s celebration starts at 2pm and Helen, who also has a three-year-old daughter, Amelia, added: “I think it will be really emotional.”