AN INVERKIP youngster’s life was saved only hours after she was born — by being frozen in a revolutionary new treatment.

Hannah Erskine wasn’t expected to survive for more than a day because she was born with arteries in her heart the wrong way around.

She also had a rare and potentially life-threatening infection she picked up in the womb.

Now Hannah is a fit and healthy three-year-old and is preparing to take part in a 10k walk for Yorkhill Children’s Charity.

It supports The Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, where she had four major operations — the first at just one day old to create a hole in her heart to help her circulation.

Hannah then spent five weeks on a ventilator.

Her parents, Gillian and William, who are both teachers, were delighted when their little girl arrived, but just seconds later the newborn turned blue and was fighting for breath.

She needed lifesaving hypothermia treatment, where medics reduced her body temperature to just 32C to prevent damage caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Mrs Erskine, 36, said: “To look at her, you wouldn’t know there had been anything wrong.

“She looks completely healthy “She’s a great wee walker and if she gets tired we can put her on our shoulders.

“I’m sure she’ll get there in the end.

“She’s such a fighter and so strong-willed, and I think that’s why she’s here.” Hannah was born at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley on 27 June 2010, weighing 8lb 5oz.

Mrs Erskine got to hold her briefly after she arrived, but Hannah made only the faintest of sounds and started to turn blue.

She was taken to intensive care and hooked up to a ventilator before being transferred to Yorkhill, where tests confirmed she had transposition of the great arteries.

The condition meant the main arteries were swapped around, starving her body of oxygen.

Mrs Erskine said: “It was devastating.

“When she was born we were expecting this perfect baby.

“But when she didn’t make a proper cry I panicked.

“I was discharged from Paisley that evening and I went straight to Yorkhill.

“It was just a complete rollercoaster.

“Sometimes she would seem to be doing fine, and then the next our world was turned upside down because she had crashed.

“She was attached to hundreds of wires and machines. It was like a Godsend every time a machine was taken off her, because it was a step closer to her getting better.” However, Hannah had to wait until she had battled the major infection before she could have her nine-hour open-heart surgery at two weeks old.

Following the operation, she seemed to be doing well and at six weeks old she was finally allowed home.

But the family’s joy was short-lived as Hannah was home for just one hour when she had to be rushed back into hospital for emergency surgery that night to have part of her bowel removed.

Mrs Erskine said: “It was hurdle after hurdle.

“It was hard to stay positive, but we had a lot of support from the hospital staff and our families.” Mrs Erskine hailed surgeon, Mark Danton, as a ‘lifesaver’ and a ‘hero’, adding: “We can never repay everyone at Yorkhill for saving her life. They were just wonderful and so dedicated. We can’t thank them enough.

“It was a dream come true when we finally got her home. It was great waking up each day and getting a cuddle from my daughter and being able to do normal things that families do.” The toddler, who loves swimming, dancing and riding her bike, will join her family and friends on 27 April at Loch Lomond for the walk in aid of the charity.

Mrs Erskine said: “What she has come through is remarkable — and she amazes us every day.” Anyone who would like to support the walk can do so by visiting uk.virgin moneygiving.com/team/