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Mum 'scared to close her eyes' as daughter could die any moment

Lynette HorsburghNorth West
News imageFamily photograph Francesca (left) with long brown hair wearing a tan jacket and black bobble hat holds the hand of her daughter, Sienna, who also has long brown hair and is wearing a tan-coloured jacket and an oxygen mask. Sienna also holds the hand of her dad, Kyle, who has black hair and beard, and a black and grey jacket and grey trousers. There is a green dinosaur in the background. They are all smiling. Family photograph
Sienna's parents Francesca and Kyle dream of taking her to Disneyland Paris to meet her favourite Disney character, Elsa

A mum of a terminally ill girl born with half a heart has described how she is "scared to close her eyes" since doctors told her her daughter could die suddenly at any time.

Francesca, from Liverpool, said she knew when she was pregnant with her only child Sienna that she had hypoplastic right heart syndrome.

The 30-year-old said Sienna, now 11, has undergone more than 50 operations, from open heart surgery to brain and spinal surgeries.

"She has been fighting from the get go. I don't think there is part of her which doesn't have a scar. It is heartbreaking what she has to go through," she said, adding she was now determined to "make memories with the time they have left".

News imageFamily photograph Sienna, with long brown hair and wearing a sparkly cream and gold dress, laughs with her mum pictured from behind with long brown hair, tied back with a cream flower clip. They are hugging.Family photograph
Sienna is always laughing and so happy, said her mum

Francesca's sister Alexis has set up a fundraising page to help with making special memories for Sienna.

Francesca said one of the hardest things to deal with was that Sienna, who is unable to talk and uses a wheelchair, was oblivious to her diagnosis.

"It's heartbreaking. She is so happy," she said.

She said she was at a "horrible" medical appointment where she got devastating news and she looked over at Sienna and she was "laughing and clapping" and contentedly playing with toys.

After her last surgery failed in 2024 there was nothing more that could be done for Sienna, and Francesa has been told by medics her heart could stop beating without warning.

"It's like living with a ticking time bomb," she said.

News imageFamily photograph 11-year-old Sienna with long brown hair wearing a winter white faux fur hat and matching red velvet and white faux fur collared coat.Family photograph
Sienna has faced more than 50 surgeries, her mum said

Francesca said she and Sienna's dad, Kyle, wanted to cherish every moment they could with her.

They dream of taking her to Disneyland Paris, and Francesca would like to make hand casts of Sienna for her aunts and uncles to treasure.

"She deserves so much in life," said Francesca, who has been unable to work while devoting her life to caring for Sienna.

"I would love to drive her to Disneyland Paris so she can meet her favourite Disney character, Elsa," she said.

She added it would be "very special" for her to experience fair rides for the first time as she has always been restricted before because of her various medical conditions.

She said the donations to help them afford to make special memories "means more than words can express" to the family.

News imageFamily photograph Side profile of Francesca (left) with long brown hair wearing a tan jacket with her eyes closed and face resting on the cheek of her daughter, Sienna, who also has long brown hair and is wearing a black scarf. Sienna is smiling.Family photograph
Francesca said it is heartbreaking what her daughter has to go through

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