THE death of little Hannah Smith almost exactly a year ago affected everyone who read her story.

Hannah was born with a seriously malformed heart, which meant that without surgery she could not survive into adulthood.

During the summer of 1999, a shortage of intensive care beds meant vital surgery to correct the inherited disorder had to be cancelled repeatedly.

Following protests from her parents, Robert and Susan Smith, of Aldbrough St John, in North Yorkshire - which triggered a national outcry - Leeds General Infirmary announced plans to open more intensive care beds.

Finally, after Christmas at home with her parents, Hannah was admitted for the operation that should have allowed her to lead a normal life.

But when surgeons operated they realised that her condition was far worse than they had imagined.

She never regained consciousness and, after her shattering death, her parents were faced with the prospect of remaining childless - because of fears that another child would have heart problems.

Hannah's father suffers from a serious inherited heart condition, which he may have unwittingly passed on to his daughter, although doctors cannot be certain.

Because of this, the couple decided not to have another child, unless tests could rule out another tragedy.

"If we have to , we will adopt. We couldn't put a child through that," said Mr Smith shortly after Hannah's death.

But after meeting genetic experts, the couple received the news they were hoping for.

"After Hannah died, they found that this condition was something that the specialists had never seen in a child. It was typical Hannah, we always said she was one in a million," said Mr Smith.

The couple were told that the chance of a serious heart problem recurring was about three per cent - compared with one per cent in the general population.

"We wanted to find out what the percentage risk was, because at first we thought it might be up to 50 per cent," said Mr Smith.

"When they said only three per cent, we said, right, we will go for it and hope for the best.

"After all, I am 36 and Sue is 35, so time is running out," he said.

Mrs Smith has undergone a series of ultrasound scans to ensure the baby is developing normally. Everything is going to plan and the baby is due in April.

"So far so good. We are tremendously relieved," said Mr Smith.

"The doctors have checked the left and right ventricle and the aorta and everything seems fine."

Because of their previous experience, the couple have kept the pregnancy secret until now. But they decided to go public because, at nearly six months, Susan's condition is difficult to conceal.

"It has been kept pretty quiet, but you can't really hide it now," said Mr Smith.

"We wanted to make sure that the baby was okay before we told people."

Despite all the scans, the couple have decided they don't want to know the sex of their child.

"It would be like opening your Christmas present early," said Susan.

Whether it is another girl, or a boy, the couple say their lives - and the lives of others - have been changed forever by the gift of Hannah's life.

A commemorative seat stands on the village green where Hannah used to play and fresh flowers, left by strangers, can often be found on her grave.

"We live in a close community, and that has really helped," said Robert