TWO weeks ago Harrison Johnson had five and a half hours of open-heart surgery, his parents fearing he might not survive the ordeal.

But the Newport toddler has delighted doctors and family by coming through the operation so well he is already back home.

His amazing recovery is in stark contrast to the weeks he spent teetering on the brink of death after undergoing a heart and lung bypass aged just six months, in June 1999.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Harrison, of Lucas Street, had two strokes shortly after surgery, which left him partially paralysed for a while. He also suffered liver, kidney, gut and bowel problems.

At one stage, deemed too sick to even be moved from one bed to another, he spent four weeks in intensive care, and five months overall in hospital in Birmingham and Cardiff.

But his parents, Mike and Maria, were told he would need another heart operation and that there was a high chance of him having another stroke.

"We tried to push it to the back of our minds and enjoy being with him, but we knew the day would come," said Mrs Johnson.

"Gradually he started getting more breathless and turning blue, and we knew he needed the operation."

The call came on Thursday, April 19, and Harrison was admitted to Birmingham Children's Hospital on Tuesday, April 24.

The operation to repair his left and right pulmonary arteries, which involved bypassing his heart, took place on April 26. He spent two days in intensive care, but responded so well he was allowed home on May 2.

"We can't believe he's done so well after all the problems last time. We thought he'd be in hospital at least a month," said Mrs Johnson.

"It was something we were dreading, but we knew we had no choice. Just before he went into theatre was terrible, wondering whether we'd see him again.

"We had a brilliant weekend away in Carmarthenshire before he went into hospital, and that was good because things were so hectic it took our minds off it."

Harrison will need further surgery because the human valves he has received will only last between two and ten years.

"We were a bit gutted when we found out, because he's been through so much already, but if he must have another operation, we hope it's later rather than sooner," said Mrs Johnson.

"We're just glad to have him home so soon. He's full of himself, riding around on his bike. It's amazing."