A BABY who has spent the first seven months of his life in hospital may finally be allowed home soon, after undergoing a third open heart operation today.

Jude Curling’s mother Rebecca has hailed the “absolutely amazing” care he has received at the Leeds congenital heart unit since being born with a hole in the heart.

And his big sister Eve has persuaded her school’s head teacher to ask all her fellow pupils to wear red on Friday to raise funds for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, which supports the unit.

Rebecca, formerly of Brayton but now Hemingbrough, near Selby, said Jude needed a 10-hour open heart operation at just eight days old after being born with a small aorta and a large hole at the bottom of his heart.

She said he had a second, 12-hour heart operation at six weeks old and was due to have a third one today, and he had also suffered three cardiac arrests, influenza, a heart infection, bronchitis and a seizure over the months but had pulled through everything. “He’s a real toughie!” she said.

She said that if all went well today, she hoped he would be allowed home in the next few weeks - thanks to the dedication and care he had received from staff at the unit.

“They have been absolutely amazing,” she said. “They all know him - he’s been in there so long he’s like a ward mascot!”

She urged people to get behind the fund by wearing red on Friday. “Wear Red Day is so important - not only to raise money for an amazing charity but also raise awareness of congenital heart disease,” she said.

She said Jude’s big sister Eve had written a letter to the head teacher at her school, Longman’s Hill Primary School in Selby, to ask for pupils to take part in the fund’s annual Wear Red Day on Friday.

The eight-year-old said in the letter to head Jan Elcock: “My little brother Jude is in hospital and has been in a long time. They have saved his life and I would like to say thank you to them.”

Rebecca said parents had now been sent a letter asking for their children to wear red on Friday and make a donation to the appeal. She said children at the Headstart nursery in Brayton, which was attended by Jude’s sister Nell, were also taking part.

The fund is looking for businesses, employees, schools, students, clubs and other regional organisations to take part in Wear Red Day to help save babies like Jude.

CEO Sharon Coyle said: “In our 30th year as a charity, the need for fundraising through our annual Wear Red Day is more important than ever - as Jude’s story highlights.

“All donations will go directly to fund life-saving equipment, crucial medical research and much-needed ward facilities.”

*To support Wear Red day, people can get a fundraising pack from chsf.org.uk/wear-red-day-2018, or by emailinginfo@chsf.org.uk or calling 0113 392 5742, or can text WEAR18 £5 to 70070.