A DESPERATE mother is appealing to people in Kent to help save the life of her "miracle" daughter. Little Phoebe Davies has had three heart operations in the first six months of her life and is on borrowed time.

Now her mother Ruth has launched a major fundraising campaign to take her precious little girl half way across the world for life-saving surgery. "There is a surgeon in Canada who is prepared to operate on Phoebe if we can raise the cash," said Mrs Davies at her home in Lydia Road, Deal.

For Phoebe, who celebrated her first birthday last month, the operation will not only extend her life but also improve its quality. She survives on a daily diet of drugs to keep her heart going and has to be fed every two to four hours.

"She gets very tired and lethargic and her development is six months behind," said her mother who has two other children.

It has been a traumatic 12 months for the Davies family, who have had to cope with their daughter's three "risky" operations and other serious setbacks.

An operation at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children is now top priority for Phoebe.

"This sort of surgery hasn't been done very often before and there isn't anyone willing to do it Britain," said Mrs Davies. "In desperation I decided to search the Internet for someone who would."

A surgeon in Toronto was recommended and Mrs Davies Ruth has had regular email contact with him. Now she needs to raise thousands of pounds to fund the operation and her stay in the country.

She stressed: "I have been told it will cost at least £10,000 for the surgery and then there will be the intensive care costs. We will probably be out there for a couple of months."

Fundraising has already begun with her other children drumming up support at their schools in Kingsdown and Dover.

"I think the costs are going to be between £30,000 and £50,000, which is a lot of money to raise," said Mrs Davies. "I will try anyone for help and have sent letters to all sorts of celebrities including Tom Cruise, Elton John and Sylvester Stallone."

Local businesses and organisations are being approached. Anyone who would like to support the Friends of Phoebe fund can donate money to a special account at the HSBC bank in Deal. The account number is 91382209 and the sort code is 491910.