Two years on, Mrs Reed's son, Jamie, is as active as any other 17monthold.

Jamie has a long list of complicated heart conditions, which means he has "half a heart", Mrs Reed said.

"It is the size of a fist, or a walnut size. I was just blown away the surgeon could fix such a small heart."

The Reed family, including husband Glen, have gone through a difficult journey. They have spent endless hours in hospital, shed plenty of tears, and feared whether Jamie would survive the battle.

Jamie has already had two heart operations, and needs another one. A scar runs from just under his neck down his torso.

The first weeks of Jamie's life were spent in hospital. He had his first operation when he was just six days

old. He had another operation when he was three months old.

"We found out about the condition at the 20-week scan. It blew us away, we didn't have a clue what was going on. The sonographer said he couldn't see the heart at all."

Jamie was born at Monash Medical Centre and was transferred to the Royal Children's Hospital for his first operation.

"I was in tears. You don't expect it. I had one healthy child, and you don't expect anything out of the ordinary."

Today, Jamie plays in the backyard with his brother Lachlan, and gives a cheeky smile.

Mrs Reed praised the doctors, and her family and friends who supported her.

She also thanked support group HeartKids, which gives parents with children with heart conditions the opportunity to discuss their cases.

Mrs Reed attends a Wantirna group that caters for residents in the eastern suburbs.

"We can relate to each others' stresses, and, when the next operation is coming up, provide support. A lot of people don't understand what you're going through, and I guess it helps."

February is Childhood Heart Disease month and HeartKids is the sole charity for CHD.

Click here for details on HeartKids.