A BRAVE five-year-old girl has won a national award in swimming – just months after undergoing open heart surgery.
Just last year, Mia McGrory, of Immingham, had to have major surgery to fix a murmur caused by a hole in her heart and to move a vein that was flowing in the wrong direction – all when she was just four years old.
Now just one year on, she has scooped the Gold Swimtastic Award for disabled swimmers, after being nominated by her swimming instructor Mary Clark.
Mia's mum, Alex McGrory, says she is immensely proud of her daughter.
She said: "We are so overwhelmed at what she has achieved.
"We are all so very proud of her, she has done fantastically well.
"We never realised she had anything wrong with her heart until she was one year old.
"She got a chest infection which led to the discovery of the problem in her heart.
"She had a scan that revealed she had the birth defects and the doctors said they wanted to act fast to correct them as soon as possible.
"They said that while she was young it would be the best time for her to have the surgery, as she would recover faster.
"She was in intensive care for just a couple of days and just five days after the surgery, she was discharged from Leeds.
"Only six weeks later, she was well enough to get back into the pool.
"It was amazing. She has always been an avid swimmer.
"I started taking her swimming when she was just a baby and she has always loved it.
"As soon as she was well enough she wanted to be straight back into the pool.
"Now, one year on, she is just as happy a little girl as any other.
"Doctors say she should not need any further surgery but will continue giving her annual scans to ensure her heart is growing as expected."
Mia was nominated for the Swimtastic Disability Swimmer Of The Year award by swimming teacher Mary.
The accolade is for a swimmer who either has a disability or has overcome a disability and who has continued to develop their swimming, achieving high standards throughout the year.
Mia competed against children from across the country in a series of events, including swimming and raft building, before achieving first place and gold in her category.
Mia was presented with her trophy by Paralympic gold medal swimmer Joseph Gray.
Alex said: "When Mary said she wanted to nominate Mia for the award, we were so overwhelmed and proud that she thought so highly of her.
"We were so moved by the thought that someone else felt Mia deserved to get the accolade."
Mia said: "I came out of Leeds Hospital after having surgery on my heart.
"All I wanted to do was get back in the pool. I really enjoy swimming.
"I am so happy that I was chosen for the award and I am really proud that I won it.
"It is on top of the fireplace at home so everyone can see it!
"My swimming teacher Mary is just the best ever, she is fantastic."
Mary, who teaches at Immingham Swimming Pool, said: "I have been teaching Mia for two years.
"I know about her surgery and what she has overcome.
"I nominated her to take part in the competition because she has shown herself to be so brave and so desperate to come back and get swimming again after her operation.
"She is back to being a healthy, happy, little girl.
"I treat her no different to any other of the children I teach, but she is so eager to get in the water, she has such a positive attitude. I just felt she deserved the nomination."
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