Middleton heart transplant girl dies in hospital
A four-year-old girl with a rare hereditary heart condition has died while waiting for her second heart transplant in less than three years.
Katie Williams, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, received her first donated organ in December 2007, aged two.
She was waiting for a new organ in hospital in Newcastle. Her condition deteriorated and she died on Sunday.
Family friend Rachael Naylor said: "She was a very brave little girl - an inspiration to everyone."
Katie was diagnosed with acute dilated cardiomyopathy in 2007. Her twin sister, Lauren, and mum Louise Snape, have the same condition.
The condition causes the heart to enlarge and become less effective.
'Feels like failure'
Dr Richard Kirk, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, said: "Our thoughts are with the parents because clearly for them it is a terrible thing.
"We miss looking after her. We wanted her to get well. We tried very hard over the last few weeks to get her there.
"It feels very much like a failure that we haven't managed to."
Floral tributes to the youngster have been left outside the family home.
Tributes have also been left on a Facebook page which had monitored her progress in hospital.
One read: "Rest in peace little angel. Our thoughts are with all your dear family and friends."
Another tribute read: "God Bless sweetheart. Thoughts and love to your family at this sad time."