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The eight-month-old has spent every day of his life at the LGI unit after he was born with a rare, life-threatening condition which left him with no pulmonary arteries.

But despite his small size, the tot has shown extraordinary strength in his battle to survive and has continued to amaze doctors.

Just three months ago, his distraught family were told to gather relatives to say their goodbyes - but now proud parents Kelly Emmerson, 38, and Robert Wood, 41, are hopeful he will finally be well enough to come home.

Myles Wood, eigth months, who is currently an in-patient at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit at LGI. Picture: Gary Longbottom

Kelly said: “Fingers crossed, he’s doing so well now. He’s on mobile oxygen now so he might be able to go home within the next month.

“We’re absolutely desperate to get him home. We gained a family member but never had him home. To be able to take him home, we can’t wait.

“He’s so strong. He’s had four operations and he’s just managed to fight through each time.

“Around Bonfire Night they said we should start calling family because Myles was going to deteriorate and they didn’t think he would make it to Christmas.

Kelly Emmerson and Robert Wood with Myles Wood, their 8 month old son at Leeds General Infirmary. Picture: Gary Longbottom

Have a Heart: We take a look at the history of the Children's Heart Surgery Fund...

She added: “Even though he’s been so poorly, all the way through it all he’s been laughing and smiling and giggling. He has such a gorgeous personality, he really has.”

Myles desperately needs open heart surgery but his lungs are too weak at the moment.

The YEP's Have a Heart campaign, to help the Children's Heart Surgery Fund in Leeds raise 1m this year.

The mum-of-four, of Cleckheaton, said the heart unit team has become Myles’s second family.

“It’s been horrible but the staff have made it a much better experience. The team is just exceptional. All of ward 51 are outstanding. They’re all his adopted family.”

She said the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund had also provided “brilliant” support - to all her family.

So much so that her older son Jack, eight, organised an Odd Sock Day at his school, Howard Park Community School, as a thank you to them and raised £400.

Kelly said: “We have four other children and they’ve helped us all. They’re so supportive. We’ve been on such a journey that no parent wants to go on but they have kept bobbing in to make sure that we are alright and that our children are ok.

“At Christmas time, they organised a little party for us so we were all able to spend time with Myles.

“They’ve just really done a brilliant job.”

To donate:

Visit chsf.org.uk/donate to give a one-off donation or to set up a regular, direct debit donation.

Or pay cheques to: Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at 3 Oxford Place, Leeds, LS1 3AX

Have a Heart: Back the YEP's campaign to help children like eight-month-old Myles