A STOCKTON couple who spent their son's first Christmas in hospital are backing a charity's appeal to help keep families like theirs together this festive period.

Christina Baxter and Phil Bulmer from Stockton-on-Tees noticed something wasn't right with their son just days before Christmas 2019.

Declan, now 14 months old, had contracted a combination of respiratory syncytial virus, a tummy bug and MRSA and spent eight weeks in Newcastle's Royal Victoria infirmary where he also underwent emergency bowel surgery after it became perforated.

During his time in hospital, his parents and sister Lillian were given warm and comfortable place to stay by the The Sick Children's Trust at it's Home from Home Crawford House.

As a result, the whole family could be together over the Christmas period and until Declan was well enough to be discharged home.

To thank the charity Christina and Phil are back The Sick Children's Trust's appeal which is asking donations of £30 to give a family with a seriously ill child in hospital a place to stay for one night.

Christina said: "The nurse took one look at Declan when we arrived and sent us straight to A&E.

"The next time I saw him he was covered in wires and tubes. If we had left it any longer Declan might not be with us today – which I can’t bear to think about.

"Both of us wanted to be with Declan, and neither of us wanted to leave Lillian.

"So, when we were told about The Sick Children’s Trust and its ‘Home from Home’ Crawford House, which was just a few minutes’ walk from Declan’s bedside, we were relieved.

"Although it wasn’t the Christmas we had imagined because we were staying at Crawford House we could stay late on Christmas Eve at Declan’s bedside without worrying about making the journey home.

"We could go to bed, and Lillian still felt the excitement of Father Christmas coming to visit. Although we weren’t home, he managed to find his way to her and she opened her presents before we went over to Declan on Christmas morning, where she helped him open his.

"It would have been so tiring travel two hours a day, if not longer, depending on traffic."

Jane Featherstone, Chief Executive at The Sick Children's Trust, said: "This year we’re grateful for the times we can be together with loved ones. With a donation of £30 from you, we can ease their worries."