Milla Black is a miracle baby. Mum Jo feels 'blessed and lucky” that she can tuck her now seven-year-old daughter into bed each night.

The Papamoa girl was diagnosed with truncus arteriosus when Jo was 20 weeks' pregnant with her first baby. Milla was born at the National Women's Hospital in Auckland without a pulmonary vessel and a hole in her heart.

Milla Black, 7, on her trampoline. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

She was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit straight after birth before she suffered heart failure and needed open heart surgery.

'It didn't work and they told us to take her home and love her,” says Jo. 'It was just about impossible to comprehend. You really don't know what it's like until it happens.

'It was really difficult not knowing if she would make it through birth. I didn't get to see her for six hours after she was born. It was quite harrowing.”

At six months old Milla had surgery again. She's since had six angioplasties, which is an endovascular procedure to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins.

On July 2, surgeons replaced the conduit piece which substitutes Milla's missing pulmonary vessel.

'It's kind of like the bendy piece on a bendy straw which helps to send the oxygenated blood around her body,” says Jo. 'Without it, she would die.”

Milla will most likely need more surgeries to replace the conduit as she gets older, as it won't grow with her.

Her sternum has been cut three times, which means Milla's not allowed to play any contact sports. An accidental thump to the chest could send her straight back to the hospital.

But Milla's not one to sit still. 'She's quite active,” admits Jo. So Milla has taken up swimming and cheerleading.

The Papamoa family is one of more than 100 families in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty looked after by Heart Kids Bay of Plenty.

'But she's not just a heart kid,” says Jo. 'That's just a small part of who she is.”

Jo is cautious not to wrap her daughter up in cotton wool.

'It's really hard to not be able to fix your babies. Every mum expects to be able to provide everything they need to take care of their child.

'But beside what the doctors can do, by providing them with love, support, a healthy home and a supportive environment, you're giving them the will to live and that's important too.

'That's what it's about – giving them the courage and confidence to give everything a go.”

This month is Heart Kids Awareness Month and Jo encourages everyone to donate. To donate, visit: www.heartnz.org.nz or givealittle.co.nz/org/heartkidsbop

To make a $3 donation to the national organisation, text HEART to 2427.