BEFORE she was even born, little Chloe Dalton had been diagnosed with a host of heart problems.

And had it not been for Ocean Ward and the children’s intensive care unit (PICU) at Southampton General Hospital she may not have survived her first week.

The two-year-old has been fitted with a pacemaker, survived two major heart operations and been in and out of hospital throughout her short life.

Now her parents Kate, 34, a hospital administrator, and Phil Dalton, 37, a pipe fitter, and her five-year-old brother Thomas have raised £700 to thank the staff who saved their little girl.

The family from Bitterne, Southampton, are also urging people to support the Daily Echo-backed Wessex Heartbeat High 5 appeal to raise the final £100,000 needed to bring a new ward to the hospital for 16 to 30-year-old cardiac patients who have outgrown Ocean Ward.

Doctors spotted Chloe had a number of congenital heart conditions when Kate was offered a 3D scan towards the end of her pregnancy.

The moment she was born she was rushed straight to Ocean Ward where she had her first operation at just four days old.

This year her family feared she would not be home for Christmas when she was taken back into hospital for another major operation and to have a pacemaker fitted.

Chloe’s family organised a fundraising event which raised hundreds for Ocean Ward and PICU.

Dozens of people attended the event at the Ford Sports and Social Club in Wide Lane, Southampton, and took part in a raffle, a name the teddy competition and a guess the weight of the Christmas cake competition.

Kate said: “We were told if she hadn’t been diagnosed early she would have died quite early. We were lucky we found out.

“She’s got a pacemaker now and she’ll need care her whole life and that could involve visiting the new High 5 ward.

“Just seeing her in intensive care, everything was horrible but now you wouldn’t know what she’s gone through.

“Things don’t tend to faze her at all – she just gets on with it.

“Phil came up with the idea to do a charity event long before she went in but we were not expecting to do it until next year but within a few days of her being out we decided to do it now. It’s to celebrate how well she’s done as well as to say thank you to Ocean Ward and PICU for everything they’ve done.

“I don’t think she’d be here today if it wasn’t for them.

“For us, not only is it the care that Chloe received but it’s also become a second home for her brother Thomas as well.

“If we hadn’t had that late scan we would never have known. With the problem that she’s got, if it hadn’t been for the team at Ocean Ward then she wouldn’t be here today.”