A YOUNG boy has now returned home to his family in Worcester following his third heart operation.

Noah Freeman, aged two, went in to Birmingham Children's Hospital for open heart surgery on March 9 — his third since he was born with congenital heart defect tricuspid atresia.

After several hours in surgery Noah was moved to a ward, and then he was released home to his family at the end of last week.

Sarah, Noah's mother, who lives with his father, Lee, and big brother, Riley, in St John's, said he is doing "incredibly well".

"Noah is okay. He has had a few blue spells but overall he's doing amazingly well. We can't believe it. Everyone has been amazed by him, although there is still a long road ahead to his recovery from the operation," she said.

"We have had some trouble getting his INR (international normalised ratio) in range. This is to check how thin or thick his blood is due to him now being on warfarin for life. It's a finger prick blood test he's currently having every two to three days. But it's great to have him home."

The heart defect means that it is difficult for Noah to do everyday things, and means he will never be able to run, walk far or travel abroad.

But over the last few months his family and friends have been raising money to send the family on exciting day trips, which have seen him visit Cadbury World, West Midland Safari Park and the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham.

Mrs Freeman said: "It's just wonderful to be able to make these memories with our boys. Recovery from the surgery will be anywhere from two to six months.

"We just want to thank everyone for their support and to thank the hospital for the amazing work they do."