RELIEVED parents have spoken of the moment they feared their little daughter might die after suffering heart failure.

And Julie and Ray Heeks now plan to use their own experiences with 16-month-old Eva to help other families.

Eva, who suffered brain damage after contracting meningitis when she was six days old, picked up a chest infection on December 29 which led to heart failure.

But after spending six days in Derian House Children's Hospice near Chorley the tot has returned to her home in Blackamoor Road, Blackburn.

Julie, 35, who gave up her nursing job to care for Eva, said: "She really was poorly last week and we thought she was going to die.

"No one knows how she has pulled through."

The youngster has suffered a number of chest infections which are aggravated because her spine is twisted and puts additional pressure on her chest.

Last week she suffered heart failure and was given antibiotics and other drugs at the hospice.

Julie said: "She keeps picking up chest infections and they said if she picks anything else up it will not be good for her.

"Every one she gets makes her chest weaker and last week was the first time her heart had started failing.

"We rang Derian House and they came to look after her for 24 hours. But with it being New Year and there not being as many staff on they said it was best to take her in."

Julie, Ray and their other two daughters Grace, five, and Honour, nine, moved into one of the flats at the Chorley-based hospice to be with Eva.

On Sunday she was well enough to return home.

Julie said: "We would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Derian House. If it wasn't for the staff there I am sure she wouldn't be here today."

Now she and Ray, 35, who had to cut down his hours as chief instructor at Darwen School of Kung Fu when Eva became ill, plan to put their details on the Meningitis Trust website.

The website encourages sufferers to tell their stories in order to help other sufferers.

Julie said: "You cannot really make plans with this as it is about taking one day at a time but we are looking to the future as best we can.

"The website sounds a good idea and I think it will help other sufferers. We would love to do something to help others."