A YOUNG Ramsbottom girl who underwent major heart surgery on holiday in Florida was expected to be released from hospital today.

As reported in Monday's BEN, Rachel Howker, born without a right heart ventricle, collapsed last week before a dream trip to Walt Disney World, near Orlando.

She was taken to Tampa's Children's Hospital where doctors realised her pacemaker was the problem.

They arranged to waive the fee for the £46,000 five-hour operation which averts a heart transplant.

"We are very grateful for the help Rachel has received," said her mum Carol Gilmore.

"It is the first time in 11 years that she has got a future. That is everything we have ever dreamed for.

"Rachel needed the surgery and the hospital and doctors were willing to provide the care, regardless of the funding source which was in question prior to the operation." Rachel's parents were told four months ago that she needed a heart transplant and decided to cheer her up by taking her to Disney World.

"This is a dream that Disney could never have given us," said her stepfather Kevin Gilmore, who lives with his family in Manchester.

"Disney is just cartoons and illusions ... we've seen true magic here. Doctors in the hospital last night said they were confident Rachel would recover completely. Gary Haas, chief of paediatric cardiovascular surgery, who pioneered the operation, said: "We knew this child's situation could be easily solved."

The surgery involved re-routing veins and arteries to decrease pressure on Rachel's enlarged heart which now pumps normally.

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