LITTLE fighter Eva Wilcock, who has two heart conditions, is helping lead the charge to buy life-saving equipment for Poole Hospital.

The four-year-old heart patient and her family from Hamworthy are backing the British Heart Foundation Hearts of Poole Appeal to raise £38,000 for a state-of-the-art portable echocardiograph machine for Poole Hospital.

They know more than most how important such equipment can be.

Eva was born with two heart conditions. Her heart can suddenly switch from a regular rhythm to beating at over 250 beats per minute.

She also has a leaking heart valve, which can leave her vulnerable to serious infection – even from the simplest graze.

But proud mum Lana, 35, said her daughter’s conditions don’t hold her back.

“Eva is full of beans,” she said. “She leads a very active and normal life even though she’s been in and out of hospital since she was born.”

Eva was diagnosed before birth with supra ventricular tachycardia – a type of abnormal heart rhythm.

Lana said episodes when her daughter’s heart would “beat out of her chest” and she would “scream and scream and turn a mottled grey colour” were both frequent and terrifying.

Techniques to stop the attacks included immersing her head in icy water or covering her face in a cold flannel – shocking her heart back into a normal rhythm.

After years of such trauma doctors have now said the condition is receding, but Lana checks her daughter’s heart daily.

Her leaking heart valve will be with her for life.

With the worst behind them, Lana and her husband Mike, a health and safety officer at Salterns Marina, are determined to give something back by raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

Lana said: “It’s life-saving equipment. We know how vital it is.”

* The appeal has raised £12,000 so far this year. If you can help, contact Zoe Nicholson on 01202 716820 or email nicholsonz@bhf.org.uk.