Heart op survivor Chanel and her family give the gift of kindness on Christmas visit to children's ward
![Fay Murrish and her children with the Make My Day Events characters who helped the family during their trip to the Freeman Hospital.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/image/onecms:ea7f077a-c579-4ff4-a250-ac9643e6451a:34f37539-a23b-4cb5-9f3d-a22a57841cc5/chanelxmas3.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Fay Murrish and her children with the Make My Day Events characters who helped the family during their trip to the Freeman Hospital.](/img/placeholder.png)
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Chanel Murrish, five, from Seaham, was diagnosed with a rare heart defect before she was born and had undergone a series of major operations.
Her mum Fay has dedicated her time to helping others just like them and had made it a family tradition to visit the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, where the little girl has been treated and is continually monitored.
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Hide AdAlong with her brothers Cole, seven, and Chase, nine, the Seaview Primary School pupil visited the ward along with a host of Christmas characters from Make My Day Events to hand out gifts.
![Chanel Murrish visited youngsters on the ward with the help of her festive gang of helpers.](/jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:4efc73c6-5cb2-42e0-8299-73b0d3275b9a:5f5b908c-85bb-48b7-9ba3-08849c380587/chanelxmas5.jpg?c=0,171,2048,1365&crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Chanel Murrish visited youngsters on the ward with the help of her festive gang of helpers.](/img/placeholder.png)
Fay, 30, who is married to Micheal, 33, said the event had been a "magical morning” with 30 parents given presents, with staff also given a treat, a food hamper given to the parents’ room, and two bags of toys donated to the ward's playroom.
A Nintendo Switch and a series of portable DVD players have also been left on the unit for its visitors to use, while £500 has been pledged to the safe ready for next year’s Christmas campaign.
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Hide AdFay said: "An the incredible amount of gifts were given out to heart heroes and their siblings spending Christmas in hospital with the help of special helpers from Make My Day Events.
![Fay Murrish and her children Chanel, Chase and Cole as they got ready to spread Christmas joy around the Freeman's children's heart unit.](/jp-ct.co.uk/image/onecms:84357627-8db0-46bc-a93d-fae5fb65a974:f2faa6bf-7995-4711-b272-03365008a69c/chanelxmas1.jpg?c=0,0,2048,1364&crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Fay Murrish and her children Chanel, Chase and Cole as they got ready to spread Christmas joy around the Freeman's children's heart unit.](/img/placeholder.png)
“Everyone's kindness who helped us fundraise or donated has been overwhelming.
“Every year I come away with mixed feelings.
“It’s awful seeing so many spending Christmas in hospital but I hope we helped spread a little magic.”
Her story can be followed by her own Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ChanelMurrish/.