Parents have shared their joy after their baby opened her eyes after spending 10 days in intensive care.
When Olena Veitaite was five months pregnant she and partner Michael Gapski were told their daughter would need surgery to repair her heart after she was diagnosed with a cardiac condition - an atrioventricular septal defect.
Pola was born in June 2021 with Down's syndrome and a hole in her heart.
The family were referred to leading charity Rainbow Trust before her surgery at Alder Hey, LiverpoolECHO reports.
Pola underwent her operation in January when she was six months old to repair the hole in her heart.
The operation was meant to last six hours, but after eight hours the doctor wanted to speak to the parents.
Olena, from Blackburn, said: "The doctor explained the operation had been very complicated and Pola had had difficulty breathing because of pulmonary consolidation, meaning there was some blood in her lungs.
"She had to spend ten days in intensive care, initially with an open chest and on breathing machines. It was incredibly hard."
It took 10 days for Pola to open her eyes as the mum said she cried tears of joy when her daughter appeared to be out of the woods.
She added: "On 27 January she opened her eyes. It was amazing and we cried constantly with joy. Gradually she became stronger and the tubes were taken out of her belly and step by step she was getting better."
Since September 2021 the family has been supported by Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker, Brodie Stockwell.
Olena added: "Over time we became more and more comfortable with Brodie and now she feels like a part of the family.
"When we were in hospital Brodie would accompany me on the ward as only one parent was allowed because of Covid-19. I was sleeping at the hospital and only swapping with Michael so that I could eat meals. It was exhausting and having Brodie was such a support."
On February 3, little Pola was finally able to come home.
Olena said: "As we opened the front door carrying Pola, Michael and I looked at each other and started crying with happiness and relief. We were so thankful that we were coming home with our baby.
"We love Pola so much and throughout it all Michael and I have always tried to keep positive and Brodie has been such a help.”
Rainbow Trust supports families who face the very real possibility that their child might die.
To mark the Trust's 35th anniversary they are creating a permanent presence in Liverpool to help families like Pola's.
Rainbow Trust Chief Executive Zillah Bingley added: "For several years we have been aware that there are a number of families in desperate need for the type of support Rainbow Trust provides in and around Liverpool.
"Rainbow Trust has supported families attending Alder Hey for treatment, like Pola’s family, but until now we have not been able to fund a new team in the area.
"Thanks to the incredibly generous donation from The Kentown Wizard Foundation this is now a reality. We look forward to working alongside the existing palliative organisations in the region to ensure that our new team can complement the existing support and together make sure that families receive the full care they require."
