A TODDLER was brought back from the dead during a serious operation as surgeons wrapped a membrane from a cow around her heart.

Now 11-month-old Aleesha Levi Taylor's family is preparing to celebrate her first Christmas at home together.

The tot, from Havelock Street, Oswaldtwistle, was born on December 16 last year with a hole in her heart and a cleft palate.

When she was four months old doctors decided to give her heart added strength by wrapping membrane from a cow's heart around it - a recognised procedure.

But doctors discovered she had an extra vein in her neck so they couldn't carry out the procedure they wanted to because of problems with her blood flow.

Instead they froze her body so her heart stopped before bringing her back to life after completing the procedure.

Mum Sue Kennedy, 20, said: "The condition was diagnosed when I was five months pregnant and we were told she'd need surgery.

"I had a difficult labour and they rushed her to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. I didn't know if I would see her again."

Dad Ben Taylor, also 20, a machine operator at Thwaites brewery, Black-burn, added: "It was horrible to see her with tubes and machines attached to her.

"She seemed so delicate and I wanted to protect her.

"It was supposed to be a four-hour operation, but there were complications and it took six hours.

"Doctors couldn't carry out the procedure they wanted to. Instead they froze her so her heart stopped.

"She was effectively dead.

"Then they warmed her up and brought her back to life."

The family spent their first Christmas in the hospital.

Sue said: "It feels like we have spent half her life in hospital but she is a real fighter and has handled her treatment really well."

She added: "Last year wasn't very festive, but the best present was having Aleesha with us.

"Aleesha had only been home a month when she was taken back to hospital because of breathing problems. Then at four months old she underwent full heart surgery."

Sue said: "She is a lot smaller than normal babies and she may be a bit slower, but she should be able to go to mainstream school and have a full life."

The couple have heaped praise on the staff at Alder Hey and when landlady Tina Greaves of the Royal Oak, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, heard about the lengths the hospital had gone to, she decided to hold the charity karaoke competition.

The pub is holding a series of six competitions in the lead up to Christmas.

The best three from each will go to the final on December 28 where they have the chance to win £300 and a recording session.

Sue, who sang Dido's White Flag at the first event, is already in the final. She said: "I really like to sing and I am pleased that I can do something for Aleesha and the hospital that helped us so much."

The events start at 7.30pm each Saturday and it costs £5 to enter.