TWO families whose young daughters have undergone major heart surgery are asking people to wear red this week to support a children's charity.

Five year-old Jessica Thomas had open heart surgery when she was just six months old, while Elsie Douthwaite, who is two and a half, had an operation on her heart yesterday (Tuesday).

Jessica's mum Katrina Bray, who lives with partner Martin Thomas and older son, Elliott, in Norton, said her daughter's congenital heart defect (CHD) had been diagnosed during pregnancy.

She was born with an atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), which is a hole in the top and bottom chambers of her heart," she said.

"At six months old and weighing just 9lb Jessica had open heart surgery which lasted for eight hours. A week after her surgery she was home and with a check up every two years all is well."

Katrina said Jessica, who is a pupil at Norton Primary School, is now thriving.

"She may need surgery in the future, but thanks to the Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) in Leeds, we now have a happy energetic little girl who goes to dancing classes four times a week," she said.

Amanda Douthwaite, who also lives in Norton with her husband Brendon and Elsie's younger, sister Daisy, said her daughter had been diagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation in June 2014 and was having open heart surgery to either repair or replace the valve.

"Although she was born with the condition, it wasn't picked up until she was nine months old and the doctor happened to listen to her heart and heard up a murmur," she said.

"Elsie was sent straight away for a scan where they picked up the problem and she has been on medication every since to control her heart. We always knew she would have to have surgery at some point and the doctors have decided now is the time to do it."

Amanda said she and Brendon were "emotional wrecks" and would not know whether Elsie would require further surgery until after the initial operation.

"CHD is so common, more common than people are aware of, which is scary, this is why raising awareness is so important," she said.

"There is no cure, the heart must be monitored throughout life. Most children will need multiple open heart surgeries, some may even need a heart transplant. Most will die waiting for this as there aren't enough donors."

To help raise awareness both families are urging people to support Wear Red Day on Friday to help raise funds for the CHSF at Leeds General Infirmary, which his aiming to build a new children's heart theatre.

A number of fundraising events are also being held, including Dance Expression in Norton, which Jessica attends, as well as coffee mornings and supermarket collections.

Amanda said: "Last year I raised more than £2,300 which was amazing and this year the total is more than £500 already.

"The original aim was just to ask people to wear red to raise awareness but people also volunteered donations which was quite overwhelming.

"February is heart month but in our life, every month is heart month, so please join in and fight for Elsie, Jessica and all the other brave heart heroes."

Anyone who would like to support Wear Red Day go to justgiving.com/Amanda-Douthwaite1/?utm_id=13 or facebook.com/events/1708441666058803/