A brave little girl with only half a working heart has had her Christmas wishes granted with a magical trip to Lapland.

Six-year-old Layla Dudding has spent more than half of her life in hospital battling a heart defect and has had more than 30 surgeries.

But despite her heart not working properly her love of Christmas has never waned, even when she has been left out of festive activities due to her condition.

This year the Durham girl will get to experience the full magic of Christmas as she heads to Lapland on December 27.

The Northern Echo: Layla Dudding is going on the trip of a lifetime to Lapland this Christmas.Layla Dudding is going on the trip of a lifetime to Lapland this Christmas. (Image: PR)

“Her heart condition can make her oxygen levels sit low, so last year she couldn’t go outside and play in the snow,” said mum Aimee.

“Her wish means that she will finally be able to do things that other children can do.”

Doctors delivered Aimee the life-changing news at 20 weeks pregnant that Layla had hypoplastic right heart syndrome, meaning she had only half a working heart.

They said that she wasn’t compatible with life.

 

But against the odds she came out “kicking and screaming” and has battled through more than 30 surgeries.

The Northern Echo: Layla was rushed into open-heart surgery shortly after being born. Layla was rushed into open-heart surgery shortly after being born. (Image: FAMILY)

She now has a feeding tube for 18 hours a day and sometimes screams throughout the night in pain, while she spends school breaktimes separated from other kids.

Mum said: “She doesn’t want to be in a wheelchair, she doesn’t want to take medicine. She just wants to be like other children.

“She gets pain in her legs, so she screams for eight to nine hours a night. It gets so bad that she asks if it's her time to go to heaven.”

“Christmas has always meant staying in the house for us. It's the time of year where there are bugs and infections, so we can never do anything.”

The Northern Echo: Layla is looking forward to meeting Santa and playing in the snow.Layla is looking forward to meeting Santa and playing in the snow. (Image: FAMILY)

Layla’s ‘trip of a lifetime’ means she is finally able to embrace the festive season, playing in the snow and meeting Santa.

And brother Oscar will also get to enjoy the trip, with his life having “been so centred around medical stuff”, Aimee said.

“He’s so excited because he’s never been able to go sledding because of Layla’s wheelchair.”

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The trip bas been organised by the Poundland Foundation, a partner charity of Make a Wish.

More than £162,000 has been raised by customers in the discounter’s stores to help send 45 families to Lapland for Christmas.

Simon Wells, Chair of the Poundland Foundation, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be sending 45 families to Lapland to enjoy Christmas with their kids this year, including Layla. The Poundland Foundation is making a real difference to lives thanks to the support and generosity of our colleagues, customers, and suppliers.”

“It’s brilliant to be able to support Make-A-Wish to deliver this life-changing trip, and I thank them for everything they do”.