A BABY boy who was born weighing just 1.8lbs is set to enjoy his first Christmas at home.

Nicola Findlater, 42, and Paul Hiles, 45, from Southend, are overjoyed their now bonny eight-month old son survived a very bumpy start to life.

Born nine weeks prematurely, Edward’s condition suddenly deteriorated and he was rushed to The Royal London Children’s Hospital where he would spend three months.

Ms Findlater said: “It was an agonising journey. Every minute felt like an hour. All I could think about was just how tiny he really was. And then it hit me. We might lose him. Our son could die.”

The family is backing The Sick Children’s Trust’s Christmas appeal for the help they received. They were able to stay near the hospital in Stevenson House, run by the charity, instead of enduring gruelling journeys or costly hotel bills.

Ms Findlater said: “Edward is back at home and progressing at a steady rate – he weighs nearly 12lbs! We’re now very much looking forward to Christmas as this will be our first.

"We’re planning to spend some quality time together and appreciate what we have got after what has been such a stressful year.

“Stevenson House was an absolute godsend in a time of complete worry, despair and distress, when we felt completely hopeless and lost.

"It gave us somewhere we felt reassured and comforted, somewhere we could look after ourselves and therefore completely focus on looking after Edward. I honestly don’t know how we would have coped.

"We could not have got through such a traumatic time without The Sick Children’s Trust.”

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