A BRAVE Rosyth girl who last year thanked surgeons for "fixing her broken heart" is now enjoying being back at school.

Young Paige Blake, seven, underwent her third open heart surgery back in August at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

The youngster was just 20-weeks-old in the womb when she was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital defect where the left ventricle of the heart is under-developed.

The condition meant she had to have her first open-heart surgery to insert a shunt at just four-days-old and had another major procedure at four months.

Her parents are now involved in organising a fundraiser where half of the proceeds will go back to the hospital where she underwent her latest ten-and-a-half-hour op.

The gig, at Monty's Rock Bar, will see at least six local bands perform on May 30.

Half of the money raised will go to Andy's Man Club while the other will go to Beat for Paige, a fund which has been set up to give back to those who have helped the Park Road Primary pupil.

Dad John said their "heart princess warrior" was continuing to amaze them with her progress.

"She is doing great," he said. "She started back at school and is almost at full hours. She is just absolutely amazing. Since coming home in September, she has had one cardiology appointment where they were really happy with her. They reduced her drugs and don't want to see her until May.

"When she was in the hospital, she missed her friends and teachers so much. Going back to school was a major thing for us and for her. It was huge. She's very sociable so it was a really great thing for her to get back to school.

"She started off by doing an hour then built it up and now she is there until 1.30pm and hopefully she will be full hours soon. Before her operations, she would be tired after school and now she is not. She is climbing up the stairs herself and goes upstairs and plays in her room. She is the last one to go to bed at night – she is making up for lost time!

"One thing she has done was she walked home one day which would never have happened before without a little help – at the moment we are at the unknown stage over what she can and cannot do. It is quite exciting finding out what she can do.

"She is so determined to do everything that she wants to."

The fundraiser, for John, is something which will help two causes which are so close to his own heart and he is hoping it can become an annual event.

"We want to give back to the hospital and especially the play therapists there," he explained. "If it hadn't been for them, we would have been snookered. They were amazing. For anyone in recovery, the play therapists are paramount.

"They were with us on the day of the operation and at appointments and ours came down to theatre. They are there for the children but also there for the parents. It is such an amazing service.

"I have been going to Andy's Man Club in Dunfermline since about June time and I don't know where I would be, to be honest, without them. It is raising awareness that it is OK to talk and it is OK to socialise and it is OK to have a bad day but we are there to try and help.

"There is support out there but there is not enough. Especially the likes of the mental health services with the NHS. They are so underfunded.

"Andy's Man Club is confidential. What happens at Andy's Man Club stays in Andy's Man Club. It is being able to talk – it seems like it is a small thing but it does so much good. The first time I went to Andy's Man Club, the day after I felt amazing. It was like a massive weight had been taken off my shoulders. They have a Facebook page which is closed and there is always somewhere there to talk.

"We are trying to get Andy's Man Club as big as we can because Dunfermline needs it. There are so many people from different walks of life and all sorts of situations, it gives you a perspective on life."

The fundraiser will take place from 4pm until midnight on May 30. Entry is by donation on the door with a recommended £10-plus donation.