In southwest China’s Chengdu City, a young girl is beating the odds and, with the help of a team of doctors and nurses, winning the fight against a deadly heart condition.

One-year-old Deqing - she may look weak now, but this was her three months ago.

She was born with a heart condition, causing severe weight loss and multiple organ failure.

Volunteers found Deqing, an orphan, in a remote part of the Tibetan Plateau, living with her grandmother.

They took her to West China Hospital in Chengdu.

“She was bloated, showing every sign of heart failure. She was in very terrible condition. If she hadn’t come to the hospital, I’m not sure if she would still be alive,” said He Juan, nurse of West China Hospital.

Heart surgery was the best option. But there were concerns Deqing might be too weak to handle it.

Dian Ke, her chief surgeon, decided it was a risk worth taking.

“It was like walking on wire. One of her feet had already stepped into the abyss of death,” said Doctor Dian Ke, Vardiovascular surgery of West China Hospital.

Deqing proved to be tough.

She had two surgeries. In the second one, her chest was left open, with her heart literally pumping in the air for two days to prevent cardiac compression.

Every moment was a critical moment, but Deqing survived through one after another.

Now, she is in full recovery mode.

She’s gaining weight - about 100 grams everyday.

And she laughs whenever people make a swooshing sound.

“Even as I face life and death every day, I marvel at the miracle of life. It can be so fragile at times, yet so strong at others,” said doctor Dian Ke.

Doctors are now saying with the right care, Deqing will be able to grow up just like any other child.