Britain's youngest patient to get heart implant spends first birthday fighting for her life as she waits for transplant Carina Marcangelo has cardiomyopathy, a disease that damages the heart Is the youngest heart patient in Britain to be fitted with a mini-defibrillator Toddler desperately needs heart transplant and has taken turn for the worse A gravely ill baby has become the youngest heart patient in Britain to be fitted with a mini-defibrillator inside her chest as doctors battle to save her life. Carina Marcangelo has cardiomyopathy, a disease that damages the heart. She is on a life support machine and the waiting list for a heart transplant. She spent her first birthday yesterday under complete sedation at Royal Brompton Hospital in London. Carina Marcangelo is on a a life support machine and waiting for a heart transplant after being diagnosed with the heart condition cardiomyopathy Carina with her sister Emily, four. The toddler is the youngest heart patient in Britain to be fitted with a mini-defibrillator to keep her heart beating In Carina's case, her cardiomyopathy means her left ventricle has a thickened wall which stops the heart working as well as it should. She was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in July last year and is currently on a life support machine and completely sedated, after taking a turn for the worse on Saturday. The defibrillator device gives a shock if her heart goes into a dangerous rhythm. She became the youngest child to have had an ICD (as they are known) fitted in November when she was just nine months old. After taking ill at home on October 14, Carina was rushed to Evelina Children's Hospital, London, until a bed became available at the Royal Brompton, where she has remained for the past four months. Carina was put on the transplant list on the day of her surgery and is on the urgent list when she is on life support. As soon as she comes off life support, she goes back on to the active list, falling down the list. Her father Darren Marcangelo, 40, from Esher, Surrey, said: 'She had a bad turn on Saturday morning but the good news is she is now on the urgent list again. In Carina's case, her cardiomyopathy means her left ventricle has a thickened wall which stops the heart working as well as it should The Marcangelo family have been told several times they might lose Carina and are hoping the hospital can keep her stable 'They can't give you any idea of time other than average waiting times, which is about three months. Now we have been waiting three months and nothing has come up yet. To get a heart that is the correct size, Carina can only receive a heart from a one-year-old to a small five-year-old. Mr Marcangelo said: 'At the moment they are trying to keep her as stable as possible and cool her temperature right down. 'We don't know how long she will be on life support for. It could be until a heart becomes available. She is in such a fragile state at the moment. He is urging people to sign up to the organ donation register so that others, like Carina, are given a chance at life. He said: 'If it's something you agree with you should sign up, but most importantly make sure your loved ones know your wishes because it is the next of kin who will have to make those decisions. It is very difficult for parents to make that decision about their child, but you have to consider it because what if something happens to them. Her father Darren said she had a bad turn on Saturday morning, but she is now on the urgent list for a transplant again Carina with her father Darren, sister Emily and mother Nicole. The family are urging others to sign up to the organ donation register so that others, like Carina, are given a chance at life Mr Marcangelo has also signed an e-petition urging the Government to create an opt-out organ donation system, with everyone automatically on the register unless they ask for their name to be withdrawn. The Marcangelo family have been told several times they might lose Carina and are hoping the hospital can keep her stable. Mr Marcangelo said: 'Carina is strong and the doctors have been amazed at how much of a fighter she is.' The last resort for Carina is an ECMO, which acts as an external heart bypass, which begins to limit the possibility of having a transplant. The Marcangelo's also have another daughter, Emily, four, who has adapted to life at the hospital. Mr Marcangelo and his wife, Nicole, explained to her about the ICD and said she understood what she was told. Speaking of the Royal Brompton Hospital, Mr Marcangelo said: "It is an amazing hospital and the staff and the whole team become your family. They are such a supportive network. My wife and I want to say a really big thank you because without the staff we would have had a complete breakdown. We've had to keep strong of the sake of our daughters. We have got everything crossed for a happy ending.