TWELVE months ago Lynn Evans broke down in tears when her desperately ill daughter Emma asked for a new heart and lungs for Christmas.

The heartbroken North-East mother thought the day would be one of the few remaining ones she would spend with the 15-year-old, who was dying from a crippling heart condition.

But now after revolutionary treatment Emma, now aged 16, is miraculously on her feet after she was given the gift of life.

Mrs Evans, 36, of Hartlepool, said: "This time last year we were heartbroken.

"She told us she wanted a new heart and lungs for Christmas and I just broke down in tears.

"But now she is fantastic. She has been given a new life - just what she wanted."

Emma was born with a congenital heart disease patent ductus - which meant the valve allowing air into her body remained open.

Surgeons at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital performed an operation to close the valve when she was five.

But after surgery Emma was left with the condition pulmonary hypertension, a progressive increase of blood pressure in the lungs which left her breathless.

As she grew, the condition worsened and she was confined to a wheelchair by the age of ten.

Doctors believed her condition meant she would almost certainly need a transplant - without which she would probably die.

As a last resort, Mrs Evans and her husband, Peter, 37, agreed to allow Emma to be used as a guinea pig for a revolutionary new treatment - which had been pioneered by Professor Paul Corris.

With funding from the National Heart Research Fund, he used a combination of drugs and therapy used to treat conditions similar to asthma.

Prof Corris said: "Untreated, Emma would have died or would have had to have a transplant - but there is a shortage of organs."

She underwent an intense programme of drug administration which included using a nebuliser six times a day.

However, it had no effect and her condition became worse.

Then, in January, Prof Corris changed the drug used to iloprast, with remarkable results.

She was the first in the UK to have the treatment and now 15 people have undergone the therapy.

Prof Corris said: "This treatment will mean that patients will no longer need to undergo transplants and it will almost certainly save lives."

Emma is back at school and leading a normal healthy life. She lives with her parents and two sisters Laura, 14, and Kirsten, nine.

She said: "I realise I'm lucky to be alive and intend to cherish every single day.

"I have exactly what I wanted for Christmas, a new life. This will be the best Christmas ever."