THE family of a toddler born with vital organs outside her body have written a heartfelt letter to her late granddad, who died while she was undergoing open heart surgery in the same hospital.

Ammia Storey, who turns two later this month (Saturday, March 14), spent the first 11 months of her life in hospital, as a rare abdominal wall defect meant her bowels, liver and intestines were contained in a delicate membrane sac outside her body.

To hold them to her, doctors created an artificial “clingfilm-like” skin; which her own skin has now grown over.

Parents Johnathan Storey and Melanie Belcher suffered another blow in October, when during what should have been a routine procedure to remove medical clips, blood flooded her lungs and she was rushed for open heart surgery.

Ammia pulled through, but elsewhere in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital her grandfather, George Belcher, also underwent heart surgery but sadly later died.

Mr Belcher, who had been a rock for the family during Ammia’s traumatic start to life, died aged 71.

Mr Storey and Ms Belcher, from Ushaw Moor, County Durham, were unable to take Ammia to Mr Belcher’s funeral, as she was still in hospital.

But Kelly Wilthew, Ms Belcher’s sister, penned a moving letter from the tot to her late grandfather.

It says: “You always called me your angel and now I am living proof that you are mine.

“I know you will be with me always for the rest of my life.”

The couple are talking about their struggle now to promote the work of The Sick Children’s Trust, which provided them with a stunning 324 days’ free accommodation near Ammia’s hospital bed in Newcastle.

“Words can’t say enough. We’ll never pay them back, Mr Storey said.

“They need every penny they can get.”

The couple are keen to meet parents with similar experiences. They can be contacted by email at: ammia.storey@gmail.com