Deborah Erskine, a Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, gave birth to her first child Olivia eight weeks prematurely last September. The newborn required multiple medical interventions for a heart rhythm issue within her first week.

Doctors performed cardioversion 13 times using a defibrillator to stabilise Olivia's heart rate. She received a diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia, which causes abnormally fast heartbeats, and atrial flutter.

During pregnancy at 29 weeks, medical staff identified a heart problem in the baby and monitored Erskine closely. Olivia first received care in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

She later transferred to the Clark Clinic at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Erskine stated her family received a booklet from the British Heart Foundation explaining the condition and its outlook.

Erskine called her daughter a heart warrior and noted she is now doing well. She stressed the need for support and funding for cardiovascular research to benefit affected families and future generations.