THE FAMILY of Bolton heart transplant girl Emma Standish were today praying for their little angel as she battled to recover from her life-saving operation.

The 10-year-old child was described as "critical but now stable" this morning after under-going the complicated surgery at The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

And it has been revealed that the donor heart came from a child or young adult.

Emma spent a total of 18 hours in theatre while surgeons carried out the delicate, life-saving operation and her mum, Deborah and dad, Darren are now keeping a constant bedside vigil.

Emma's aunt, Dawn Cartwright, said the family were keeping their fingers crossed and praying the operation was a success.

She said: "She's had her operation now and is in intensive care. We are living on our nerves at the moment, I'm waiting by the phone all the time.

"At this time of year it is really hard. We have so many emotions going around. We are so pleased she has got a heart and we know she is in the best place. She added they are all hoping Emma's determination will see her through.

"It is going to be a hell of a battle but she is a fighter -- she has had to be to get this far." Doctors have been unable to give the family any indication of how soon they might expect to see any improvement in Emma's condition and they are just taking things day by day.

But Dawn added that the family of the child who died, who want to remain anonymous and had the courage to donate the heart, are never far from their thoughts.

"We just can't thank them enough," said Dawn.

At Emma's school, St Peter's CE in Farnworth, this morning her teachers and classmates were expecting to say prayers for her and the family of the heart donor in assembly.

School secretary Beverley Bale said everyone was hoping Emma would pull through and would not be celebrating until she was out of danger.

"We are pleased Emma has been given a second chance but we must remember the other family," she said.

Surgeons at the specialist heart unit carried out the transplant operation on Saturday morning after a donor was found. Emma, of Philips Avenue, Farnworth, had been given just days to live after her kidneys failed.

She was due to have a mechanical heart fitted next to her own, but that was cancelled at the last minute.

Emma was described as a bubbly girl before she was struck down with a virus which attacked her heart in the summer.

The dilated cardiomyopathy damaged the heart which put immense strain on her vital organs. Her mother took her to the doctor when she began sleeping all the time and being sick.

She has been in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, for the past few months, while a donor was sought. When her kidneys failed she was placed on the top of the national heart transplant list.

Mother and daughter were travelling up to Newcastle in an ambulance when a telephone call to paramedics gave them the news a donor had been found.

Emma has a twin brother, Adam, and an older brother Christopher, aged 15.