TINY battler Shannon Ryan has been given a two year all-clear by her heart specialist.

Her thrilled parents, Dave and Mandy Ryan, of Margaret Street, Oswaldtwistle, are over the moon following an appointment with the consultant from Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool.

Mandy said "We are always a bit cautious. Every time we have been to see him he has told us bad news.

"Deep down we know she's doing well but I nearly did a back flip when he said he didn't want to see us again for two years.

"He was really pleased with her progress and could not get over how well she looks."

Shannon, now two-and-a-half, was born with Downs syndrome and only three months old when she underwent surgery to repair three holes in her heart.

Although the operation was a success, the patch on the tiniest hole came away and a year later she underwent a second operation to put on a new patch.

"Despite all the setbacks she had in the beginning, she's doing fabulously," said Mandy.

The couple lost their baby son Connor to cot death in June 1993.

Shannon's glowing progress report was all the more precious coming on the eve of what would have been Connor's fourth birthday.

Shannon, who wears glasses to correct her eyesight, is taking her first few steps.

She is now spending one morning a week at Holly House Child Development Centre, Rishton.

Mandy said: "Although she has grown taller her feet are so tiny she struggles with balance but all the movements are there.

"As long as she's happy and healthy everything will come in time."

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