Louisa McGregor-Smith, a 2-year-old heart transplant recipient

Little Louisa McGregor-Smith was a picture of health and happiness all dressed up as Dorothy from the Wizard Of Oz.

But the two-year-old, from Middlesbrough, owes her life to a donor who gave her a new heart when she was just three months old.

She handed out hearts to 33 Tin Men at St Thomas' Hospital in London to raise awareness of the need for more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Louisa was born a healthy baby, but at 12 weeks old she developed a chest infection.

She was rushed to Middlesbrough Hospital where she was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and diagnosed with heart failure.

Louisa's mother Samantha Smith, 35, said: "I felt devastated. I knew if she was going there she must be very poorly. It was a terribly frightening time."

After being put on a ventilator and stabilised, the family then faced an agonising wait while a heart donor was found.

Six weeks later, on December 23 2007, their Christmas wishes came true and after a 15-hour operation Louisa was fitted with a new heart.

She made an amazing recovery and four weeks later was well enough to go home.

Since then, she has progressed like a normal, healthy baby girl.