Hundreds of get-well cards and gifts - many from fellow transplant patients - fill the room where six-year-old heart-swap girl Sally Slater, pictured, is battling to recover from her heart swap.

Her mother Bridget, a lecturer at Craven College, Skipton, has been at her bedside since the operation more than a week ago and constantly talks to Sally, reads stories, and plays her favourite music. Sally's grandmother Barbara Slater, of Threshfield, near Skipton, said today: "Bridget talks to her as if she was awake and we are convinced she can understand some of it."

Among the get-well cards are many from her school friends at Kirkby Malham Primary School in her home village, where her brother Joe, five, is a pupil. Both Joe and her other brother Charlie, three, are aware Sally is very poorly and has had a new heart.

But Mrs Slater said: "They don't understand the full implications

"They don't realise how poorly she will still be when she gets home."

Sally fell ill suddenly in early March with cardiomyopathy, a virus which attacks the muscles of the heart. Her only chance of survival was a heart transplant and her father, Jon, made an emotional last-minute plea through the media for a donor to come forward.

The next day a donor heart was found - and Sally finally had her operation nine days ago at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.