A four-year-old with an incurable heart defect has passed another big milestone with her first day at school.

Olivia Wilkinson underwent 18 hours of surgery after birth at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and had to be resuscitated on two occasions during the operations in March 2008.

But now the Ilkley youngster is fighting fit and began her school life at the Sacred Heart Primary School, alongside sister Megan, seven, who is already at the school.

Her mum Naomi, who has been leading a campaign in the town to safeguard the future of the children’s heart surgery unit at LGI, said her daughter was “very excited” about her big day.

“She is doing really well at the moment,” Mrs Wilkinson said.

“She has been so excited about school and even wanted to sleep in her uniform the night before so she was ready in time.”

“We’re confident she’ll do well and want to thank everyone who has helped us over the years and we wouldn’t be here without all our family and friends and staff at the LGI.”

The Telegraph & Argus reported this week that the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, the charity fighting the decision to close the heart surgery unit at LGI, has put the decision-making body on notice that it is considering issuing legal proceedings for a Judicial Review against it, which drew criticism from Sir Neil McKay, chairman of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT). But the charity’s director, Sharon Cheng, said: “The charity has existed for 22 years to make the lives of children with congenital heart defects and their families in the North better.

“Our parents believe they have been asked to travel further to a unit that doesn’t offer the same quality of service.”