A MUM whose daughter was born with heart problems is backing the Heart of Blackburn Appeal.

Rachel O’Brien held a party for her 40th birthday and asked her friends and family members for donations to the British Heart Foundation’s campaign, which aims to raise £128,000 to fund a 3D echocardiograph machine for the Royal Blackburn Hospital, instead of gifts.

Rachel and her husband Michael, from Lammack, were warned their unborn daughter had heart problems following Rachel’s 20-week pregnancy scan in 2004.

When Molly was born on December 18, doctors discovered one of her heart valves would not close and she also had a heart murmur.

Molly, who is now seven, struggles to walk long distances and also has learning difficulties.

But she manages well and enjoys spending time with her classmates at St Mary’s Catholic School, Osbaldeston.

Her condition is monitored by specialists annually and future surgery is a possibility.

Rachel, who raised £400, said: “When we first found out Molly had heart problems, it was really worrying for us and now we just take every day as it comes.

“I decided to ask for donations for my birthday as we are so grateful to the staff at Royal Blackburn Hospital for their hard work and I wanted to give something back.

“We want to do everything we can to help other heart patients and parents who are in our situation.”

Echocardiographs are a specialised test which look at the structure of the heart.

A probe is placed on the chest and a pulse of high frequency sound is passed through the skin.

The echoes reflected by the pulse show as a picture on a screen and the images provide extremely accurate and detailed information about the structure, valves and pumping action of the heart, helping doctors make more informed and quicker diagnoses.

Barbara Dunn, the British Heart Foundation’s fundraising volunteer manager in Blackburn, said: “One in four children are born with congenital heart disease and it is vital that we do all we can to help them.

“Buying this scanner will mean more children and adult heart patients will be seen quicker, ultimately saving lives.

“I hope Rachel’s story inspires other people to help us with our fundraising.”

For more information or to find out how you can help contact Barbara Dunn on 01772 641870, email dunnb@bhf.org.uk or visit bhf.org.uk/blackburnappeal