SHE WAS the tiny Hampshire baby born with two holes in her heart and cardiac arteries that were "back to front".

Now Catherine Butler has marked her 25th birthday by getting together with fellow members of Wessex Heartbeat, which is also celebrating its first quarter-century.

The Hampshire charity has helped Catherine and thousands of other heart patients live normal, healthy lives.

Weighing just five pounds she was born at Southampton General Hospital in May 1992, the same month Wessex Heartbeat was launched to support the Wessex Cardiac Unit.

The charity has so far raised £15.8 million for the unit as well as providing free accommodation for relatives of heart patients being treated at the facility.

Catherine said: “I can’t imagine how frightened my parents were when they were told I had two big holes in my heart and my main cardiac arteries were twisted.

“Thankfully we had the cardiac unit and a top surgeon to perform my open heart surgery. We also had the support of a very new but very exciting charity called Wessex Heartbeat.”

Catherine, who was just seven months old when she underwent her operation, is now a healthy young mum and a talented dance teacher.

She is also a Wessex Heartbeat supporter who has raised hundreds of pounds to help other heart patients.

John Munro, the charity's chief executive, said: "Wessex Heartbeat has funded the construction of a young adult cardiac centre, a £1 million refurbishment of the children's ward and the building of a state-of-the-art education and conference centre, plus a paediatric intensive care ambulance.

“Last year it also celebrated 21 years of offering free, home-from-home accommodation at Heartbeat House for patients' relatives.

“Catherine and her parents received support from Wessex Heartbeat and in turn went on to become faithful supporters."

Referring to previous Daily Echo stories charting Catherine's progress over the years he added: "She became quite a poster girl for the charity. We're thrilled that she and her family have continued to help us.”

In June 2015 Catherine gave birth to a son, Jacob.

She said: “As Jacob grows I’ll tell him all about Wessex Heartbeat and I’m sure he will soon be involved in the fundraising too.”