After being born with a severe heart condition Emily Mullen was only expected to live for a few months.
However the battling Lowestoft youngster defied the odds thanks to doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
As a special thank you the seven-year-old is now appearing in adverts across London and the south east promoting the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
Born with a critical heart condition, Emily had open heart surgery at GOSH on her first day of life.
She was near death for three months before being moved closer to her family to her local hospital as she was expected to have little time with them.
But thanks to GOSH's ongoing support Emily defied expectations and her family were able to take her home.
They then did everything they could to help Emily experience as many childhood ‘firsts’ as possible, including her first trip to the beach, her first trip to the swimming pool and her first holiday.
Seven years later and after further heart surgery at GOSH in 2022, Emily has surpassed all expectations and now no longer has a terminal diagnosis.
Emily remains under the care of GOSH and still has many complex medical conditions, but she is a happy and confident seven-year-old who loves music and Disney.
Val Mullen, Emily’s Guardian said: "Every day we’d think, is this the last? So, we just wanted Emily to make as many memories as possible.
“The team at GOSH were amazing and the services GOSH Charity funds made such a difference."
Brave heart condition survivor, 7, leads GOSH Charity campaign (Image: Submitted)
GOSH Charity is devoted to funding significant child-focused healthcare, progressive research, futuristic medical equipment and support services for struggling children and their families.
Emily Mullen was born with several complicated health conditions and doctors did not expect her to survive for the first few years of her life (Image: Submitted)
Louise Parkes, chief executive of GOSH Charity said: “At GOSH Charity, we do everything we can to give seriously ill children the best chance and the best childhood possible.
"We fund vital services and research that drives progress because we believe that no childhood should be lost to serious illness, and every child deserves to experience as much as possible as they grow up."
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