Brave baby Connor going strong after open heart surgery

Doctors discovered the newborn had a heart disease called pulmonary artresia which meant blood was not pumping properly into the lungs.

However, following open heart surgery to attach a Blalock-Taussig shunt to improve the flow, Connor began his journey of recovery.

And five weeks following his birth, parents Sharon, aged 44, and Steve, 49, were delighted to bring him home to Lanesfield, Wolverhampton.

Despite having to return on a regular basis to the hospital for checks and extensions to the shunt, Connor, now aged 15 months has his life to look forward to.

This week, the family will be raising money for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

Builder Steve, who works for David Wilson Homes, will be putting a big bandage on a fork lift truck he is working on as part of the charity's The Big Bandage event on Friday.

He will be working on a development site in Baggeridge on the day.

Mrs Davies said: "Because of everything the hospital had done we wanted to give them something in return.

"We heard about The Big Bandage event where people wear bandages, but I thought about ways we could make it bigger to raise more money.

"That's where we came up with having the bandage around Steve's fork lift truck – although it has been a challenge putting the bandage together."

The couple have received materials from MedTree in Telford, Reliance Medical in Congleton, Midwest Signs in Willenhall.

Today, Connor is 15 months old. He has a sister called Jessica, who is nine years old and attends Hurst Hill Primary School.

More than 200 bandages were put together to create the larger bandage. The plan was made possible at the home development by site manager Wayne Berry.

The development of two, three, four and five bedroom homes is situated next to the Baggeridge Country Park.

Anyone wanting to support the family make money can donate direct at www.bch.org.uk.