When their children were 14, the parents of Stella and Stuart Ramage were given the devastating news their twins would not survive into adulthood without hole-in-the-heart surgery.

And doctors told the late Edith and Christopher Ramage, of Idle, Bradford, there was a 50 per cent chance the twins would not survive the pioneering operation.

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus at the time, Stuart and Stella were the first twins in Britain to have hole-in-the-heart operations. The surgery was carried out at Bradford Royal Infirmary by thoracic surgery consultant James Davidson.

But they did survive, and 50 years later they are speaking out to let others facing similar heart problems and operations know they can go on to have a full and active life.

Stella – now Coleman – went on to have two daughters and five grandchildren, including a set of twins. And Stuart, now living in Hornsea, went on to have a son and a daughter and has three grandchildren, with another on the way.

For Mrs Coleman, 64, of Leeds, the surgery and long periods in hospital even led to a whole new career. She said: “After being in hospital for so long I wanted to be a nurse.

“I got married and had children, but in my early 30s I did train to be a nurse. I trained at Airedale and then moved to St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds, caring for the terminally ill. It was very rewarding.”

Mrs Coleman said as children she and her brother would get breathless and go blue around the mouth. At first doctors thought it was a heart murmur but tests found they both had holes in their hearts, something they were probably born with.

Doctors waited until they were 14 to operate to give them the best chance of survival.

“They told our parents there was a 50-50 chance of survival but if we didn’t have surgery we would not live to be adults,” said Mrs Coleman.

Following the operation the twins had regular check-ups, but after two-and-a-half years, the surgeon Mr Davidson told them there was no need for further examinations.

“If anyone is facing major heart surgery, I want them to know how successful it can be,” added Mrs Coleman.