A THREE-year-old girl with an extremely rare heart condition is forced to take a defibrillator everywhere she goes over fears she may suffer a heart attack.

Little Lily-Ann Whittaker, who is described as ‘loving, kind and a bit of a drama queen’ was born with Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycadia (CPVT) which means her heart could stop at any moment.

Her father Daniel, 30, and grandfather Keith, 58,, also have the genetic condition, which affects around one in 100,000 people.

However, thanks to of their age they have both been fitted with implantable defibrillators in their chests, which pick up on abnormal heart rhythms as they occur.

Lily-Ann will be able to undergo this operation when she is older.

 

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The severity of the Bacup Nursery School pupil’s condition means a defibrillator needs to be on hand wherever she is, which her parents carry in a pink rucksack marked ‘cardio child’.

Lily-Ann’s mum, Zowi Whittaker, 29, of Goldcrest Avenue, Bacup, said: “We’re used to carrying the equipment now, it’s just part of our lives.

“Our family has been unlucky for three successive generations to acquire it as the chances of it being passed down are 50 per cent.

“Lily-Ann is just a normal little girl who has to deal with this.

“She loves playing and going to nursery to meet with her friends.

“She spends a lot of time in hospital having tests on her heart.

“The staff there are great with things like play therapy so the tests don’t seem so daunting.”

An example of how the condition can strike suddenly came when Daniel collapsed when he was 20-years-old during a trip to Newcastle.

His life was saved by a paramedic with a defibrillator who responded to the situation.

The most common symptoms of CPVT are blackouts, palpitations and dizziness.

These can be brought on by strenuous physical activity and heightened emotions, which can cause an increase in the amount of adrenaline and disrupt the heart.

If a CPVT sufferer collapses their heart rhythm needs to be corrected very quickly.

The trigger age for a child with the condition is usually seven or eight.

Lily-Ann is being monitored closely by doctors at Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Bacup Nursery School has been fundraising for the British Heart Foundation, including a non-uniform day on Wednesday, thanks to Lily-Ann’s story.

She and the other children took part in learning activities about having a healthy heart and being active.

Andrea Cooper, head at the nursery, said: “Lily-Ann is a delightful, happy and active little girl who always has a smile on her face.

“We wanted to support her in any way we can.

“Zowi and Daniel, along with the ambulance service, organised for the school to receive a defibrillator back in September and all staff undertook training to recognise the signs and symptoms and how to use the equipment.”