HANNAH Cahill was just a dot on a screen when doctors realised she had heart problems.

At just 23 weeks into her pregnancy, Sarah Jackson was undergoing a regular ante-natal scan when doctors noticed that her baby's heart was not working properly.

Sarah and partner Gerard Cahill were given the devastating news their daughter would be born with heart disease.

But the couple were also given sterling support from this moment onwards.

Hannah has just celebrated her second birthday and although her problems are far from over, she is a happy and healthy toddler and Sarah and Gerard know the family can cope.

Hannah was born with pulmonary artesia, a condition in which the main pulmonary artery which carries blood from the heart to the lungs is absent. Also a hole in the heart.

But her parents were prepared for the medical care which was to follow, largely thanks to Birmingham Children's Hospital cardiac liaison nurse Pauline Dewick.

"We were really shocked when they first told us," recalls 31-year-old Sarah, assistant manager at the Solihull branch of HSBC.

"I was having the scan at Good Hope Hospital and they were concerned. I am not sure we really took it all in but they did reassure us that everything would be OK."

Immediately the family, who live in Sutton Coldfield, were offered help and support.

"As soon as we were given the diagnosis we were referred to Pauline at the Children's Hospital," says Sarah. "We spoke to her on the phone many times and as we got nearer to Hannah's birth date we went to see her and had a chat with her about everything.

"She also showed us round the ward where Hannah would be cared for and explained anything we needed to know.

"The other thing she did, which was really helpful, was put us in touch with another mother whose daughter had the same condition. That was really comforting as she was really helpful and could tell us what would happen. And it was good as her daughter is now about nine."

And Gerard, a 31-year-old self-employed builder, says it was vital to have someone who could interpret all the information being thrown at them.

"They tell you so much but I don't think you can really hear a lot of it," he says. "In fact, they probably give you too much information. After every meeting we were offered counselling but at that point I don't think you can really make the most of it."

The couple decided to have their daughter at Birmingham Women's Hospital where Hannah was born without complications and then transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital. At four days old she underwent her first operation.

"I hardly saw her when she was born as she had to be taken away to the neo-natal unit," says Sarah. "She looked fine but they had to give her drugs to keep the ducts open so her heart could function.

"Then they did the operation known as a BT shunt which basically keeps the heart working until she is old enough to have major surgery."

That operation, in which she received a donated human artery, was scheduled for June of last year when Hannah was only seven months old.

Hannah was also fitted with a pacemaker to ensure her heart rhythm stays stable.

She was in hospital around five weeks. Sarah stayed by her daughter's bedside while Gerard visited daily.

Sarah remembers: "It was heart-breaking seeing her but we had great support from our family and friends.

"My work was also great as they were fine about me taking the time that was needed. It also helped that we had been given lots of information about what was happening and that Pauline was there for us if we needed to ask her anything."

Hannah's treatment is far from over. She has check-ups every six to eight weeks and, because the artery cannot grow with her, she will need to undergo the same operation probably another two times to fit larger arteries.

She also has an adult pacemaker whose batteries will need changing every seven to nine years, meaning further surgery.

But her parents are hopeful for the future.

As Hannah prepares for Christmas, she is as excited and happy as any two-year-old. Sarah and Gerard know how much they have to be thankful for.

"There was no reason why she was born with this - it is just one of those things," says Sarah. "But the fact that so much could be done and that we received so much support makes it all easier."

Sarah is so grateful for the help she received she has now become involved in giving back and is a committee member of Young at Heart, a Children's Hospital support group for families whose children have heart problems.

"It just seems right to try and do something after all the care we received at Birmingham Children's Hospital. They really do a sterling job," she explains

And she is urging readers to support the British Heart Foundation appeal to fund an additional cardiac support nurse at the hospital.

"I don't know how we would have managed without Pauline," she says. "Her role is crucial. Parents need someone who can interpret everything the medical staff are saying to them.

"Pauline is great at explaining everything in layman's terms and she is a friendly face when you need one."