A woman who survived heart surgery has spread joy to children in the Freeman Hospital heart unit over Easter.
Calli Tully, 25, was born with a hole in her heart and had to undergo emergency surgery when she was 17 to remove a muscle mass that had developed.
She spent the beginning of December 2014 on Ward 23 at the Freeman Hospital, in Heaton, and was moved by the number of children who were unable to spend Christmas at home.
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Since 2017, Calli has raised money to buy gifts for children on the heart unit, which she delivers on special times of year including Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter.
This year was no different with Calli, of Dudley, North Tyneside, delivering Easter bags filled with teddy bears, crafts, eggs, bubbles, rabbit ears, bracelets and balloons for every child.
She said: "It helps so much and I was in hospital at Christmas time so I know how it feels to be away from family at a special time of year. It just helps lift their spirits.
"All the parents were over the moon and said it was nice to talk to someone who had been in the hospital and been through it. They said I was inspirational."
Along with the gift bags, there were also 25 Easter eggs for siblings, 50 cupcakes and two big cookies for staff who were working.
One delighted parent wrote on social media: "Thank you Calli and everyone involved in supporting her. you've brightened up our day.
"Special holidays are so tough here so to know Calli cares enough to remember us and make such an effort means so much to us."
Another person wrote: "All their little faces man - so beautiful - amazing AGAIN Calli".
The soft play worker also arranges for special guests, such as Disney characters, to help her hand out presents to the children and she packages food hampers for all of the parents who spend Christmas in hospital with their children.
Her fundraising efforts have previously helped to buy gifts such as games consoles for the ward.
She regularly organises bonus ball draws on her social media page for people to raise funds for the appeal.
Calli added: "I would like to thank everyone who donated to the Easter appeal and the businesses who supported it too."
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