A miracle five-year-old from Oswestry who was born weighing only 3lbs 10oz is to be the face of a charity's Christmas campaign.

Little Amelia Thompson is on the front of thousands of envelopes being sent to supporters of Hope House across the region this week and her story is shared inside.

Amelia is now five, but her parents Dave and Charlotte feared she might not make it at all as she underwent a series of operations in her early life.

The couple's first child, it was at a routine 34-week appointment that medical staff noticed she was not growing as well as she should be.

Dave was working on the oil rigs as an electrical inspector, so Charlotte’s mum went with her for a specialist scan.

Border Counties Advertizer: Playtime at Hope House for Amelia and her parents Charlotte and Dave

“They came in and explained that a heart defect had been picked up and that it can come hand in hand with Down’s syndrome. It was just such a huge shock,” said Charlotte.

Amelia was born so small that she could fit into Dave’s cupped hands.

Dave said: “We were just so relieved she was here. All the stuff we had been told just went away and you look at your baby and you love your baby.”

Amelia was taken to intensive care and a week later it was confirmed that she had a heart condition that would need an operation and Down’s syndrome.

There began a lengthy stay in different hospitals with the aim of getting Amelia’s weight built up before a cardiac repair operation.

Dave says: “We stayed with her the night before her operation and I did not sleep at all. She was in a little surgery suit and then we were allowed to take her down to her operation. There was a form to sign and it was horrible giving you percentages for survival.”

Border Counties Advertizer: Amelia having fun in the Hope House Play Room.

Charlotte remembers: “She was meant to be gone for about eight hours but it took 10 hours – it was horrendous. We found out after it was because her stomach had erupted and they got a gastro team in and then a respiratory team because her lungs had filled.”

After six weeks Amelia was allowed home, but needed oxygen to breathe. Soon she was back in hospital again and her first Christmas was spent in intensive care.

For Charlotte and Dave life was completely taken over caring for Amelia – for a time they were even living in a camper van in a hospital car park so they could remain close by.

“I thought it was because they thought Amelia wouldn’t make it,” said Charlotte. “Because I’d grown up locally I’d always known about Hope House. The nurse at the hospital had worked here and explained it was also for respite care.

“We came for a look around and a stay just after Amelia’s first birthday. We had to be so careful to keep her away from germs and colds but we felt that Hope House was a safe environment. It was somewhere to come where Amelia could do new things like go swimming, and see other children and just play and do normal things. Jo was one of the first nurses to look after her.

“The first time we came, I came ahead with Amelia. Dave was coming from work and one of the nurses told him to stop and get a bottle of wine so we could spend time together. At first, I felt really guilty sitting there having a glass of wine while someone else was looking after Amelia. But we came downstairs to say goodnight to her and she was fast asleep – we definitely slept really well that night too.”

Dave added: “You are getting the specialist care of a hospital but with child-friendly surroundings. I know Amelia couldn’t be in better hands."

Amelia may be out of hospital at the moment, but Dave and Charlotte know their journey has only just begun.

She has started at a mainstream village school which she loves and, this summer, she became a proud big sister to baby Alfie.

Border Counties Advertizer: Amelia and her parents Charlotte and Dave with baby Alfie

“Amelia still has a hole in her heart and she still has leaking valves, but the medication is keeping it ticking over and she is not yet at a point where she needs more surgery,” said Charlotte.

“Until the day they tell us she needs more surgery, we won’t think about that. She still gets so tired because of her heart and people do forget. There are sensory issues too – crowded rooms, changes of scenery, a noise. That is what people don’t see.

“I think in some ways I would change what Amelia has had to go through and what she has missed out on – but I would not change her."