A "superhero" little girl who has undergone heart surgery and vital lung treatment is now back home from hospital and is "bouncing".

Parents Rachel Denwood and Chris Simpson have faced an agonising time as their two-year-old daughter Isabel has faced eight months of devastating illness.

Surgeons removed a cyst on the little girl's heart early this year. She also had essential treatment to remove fluid on her lungs and is still being monitored as she has a partially collapsed lung.

Proud mum Rachel said: "She has been amazing. She has taken everything in her stride. She had times where she has been really poorly and not been able to move at all. As soon as she has felt better, she's been on the move again.

"We call her our superhero."

Rachel said: "Now that we finally have her home after a scary time, we want to thank the two charities who really helped us while she was in hospital."

A fundraiser will be held at Whitehaven's Marchon Club on September 16, from 6.30pm, to raise cash for the Children's Heart Unit Fund and The Sick Children's Trust.

It is special as Isabel's sister Ellie will be performing, as well as Whitehaven Theatre Group, The Splinter Group, Louisa Morton and Kayleigh Cullen, and Beth Clark.

Chris, who is part of Whitehaven Theatre Group and Whitehaven and District Amateur Operatic Society (WADAOS), along with Rachel, also from Whitehaven Theatre Group, have been supported by friends and family during an uncertain time.

Medical staff discovered a cyst on Isabel's heart when Rachel was 30 weeks pregnant. This January doctors became concerned that the cyst had grown.

Isabel was taken to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in June where she had the cyst removed.

But, the family, of Esk Avenue, Whitehaven, later discovered - during a routine appointment - that one of Isabel's lungs had partially collapsed.

She was admitted the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where she had physiotherapy and medication.

Isabel returned home but her breathing deteriorated. She was taken to West Cumberland Hospital but was rushed to the Freeman Hospital where she stayed for about two weeks.

"That's when it all came to a head," said Rachel. "She couldn't breathe. They rushed her to a CT scan. They found her lungs were being crushed because of fluids."

Chest drains were used to remove the excess fluid on the little girl's lungs.

Rachel said the past year has been "difficult" but she thanked The Sick Children's Trust for providing a room for her and Chris to stay in while Isabel was in hospital. She also praises the nurses and surgeon for going above and beyond their roles.

Money from the fundraiser will also go to the Children's Heart Unit Fund which funds indoor and outdoor play area at the Freeman Hospital.

Fundraiser tickets, costing £10, are available. A selection of prizes are available to be won, raffled and auctioned including a designer Ted Baker handbag donated by Ted Baker. There is also recording time with Mark D'Vaz and an official signed James Bay T-shirt.

To reserve tickets, contact littlepeoplesbighearts@outlook.com. People can also email if they want to donate money or prizes.