LITTLE Aubrey loved going for walks, drawing, watching Emma the yellow Wiggle and was obsessed with her favourite cheese and biscuits. She also fought the bravest of battles.

Aubrey’s parents Joshua and Brittany Rochow should be looking forward to celebrating their daughter’s second birthday this coming Sunday.

Instead, they have had to experience an early, heartbreaking goodbye, with Aubrey passing away on Friday from unbalanced Atrioventricular Septal Defect (uAVSD).

The major cardiac condition results in a hole between heart chambers, along with issues in the heart valves, and was diagnosed in Aubrey before she was even born.

At 20 weeks gestation her parents were told she was facing just a 75 per cent chance of survival, but Aubrey went on to beat the odds – undergoing two heart surgeries before she was just three-months-old.

Sadly, her parents were recently told that her heart medications were no longer working and that she needed palliative care.

Speaking with The Bunyip late last week, Dad Josh said the news has been devastating but they have remained focussed on spending as much quality time together as possible.

“We are both more than proud of her – words can’t describe how proud,” he said.

“She’s done remarkably well and beaten the odds. She is a fighter I can tell you.”

In May, Josh and Brittany brought forward their wedding so as Aubrey could be there for the special moment.

They also welcomed a little brother, Malakai, to the family in June.

“She’s smitten with him,” Joshua said.

“Even in these hard times she just loves him.”

The Evanston family has expressed their gratitude to extended family and friends, with a special thank you to Heartkids Australia, Max’s Place in Melbourne, and all the medical staff who have helped Aubrey along the way.

A Go Fund Me page has garnered close to $8500 to help cover the costs of a funeral, as well as a special chair the family want to have made in Aubrey’s memory.

It can be found by searching ‘Dreams for Aubrey’ at ‘gofundme.com’.