Family's year of joy (From Warrington Guardian)

Family's year of joy

PARENTS Paula and Ian Spender are celebrating a birthday they thought they might never see.

Mother-of-three Paula, aged 38, lost her daughter Elizabeth at the end of 2001 a few days after she was born.

Elizabeth died from Neonatal Haemochromatosis, a condition which causes hepatitis, despite an emergency liver transplant.

When Paula became pregnant again in 2004 it was feared the child could also suffer from the rare condition.

She underwent an experimental treatment programme during her pregnancy to combat the disorder.

Only 30 babies around the world had received the treatment at the time, and it was a complete success.

William was one year old on Wednesday, and Paula visited Macclesfield Hospital to thank medical staff for saving her son's life.

Paula and Ian live in Congleton, and the experimental treatment she underwent was managed by Macclesfield Hospital in consultation with experts from Britain and America.

"Thankfully the treatment was a complete success, and William is a healthy and happy baby," said Paula.

"On behalf of my husband and William's brothers, Elliott and Thomas, I would like to thank everyone at Macclesfield Hospital.

"They went above and beyond the call of duty to save our son, while their kindness and generosity helped support us through a difficult and emotional experience."

One of the team involved in the treatment was consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Peter Dunlop.

"Everyone at the hospital is delighted William is doing so well," he said.

"In overcoming what is a very rare and potentially fatal condition William has beaten all the odds.

"Paula and Ian were so determined he would survive, and I'm thrilled the treatment worked and William is a typical toddler.

"Everyone here wishes the family every happiness in the future."

Paula said the treatment was very draining and emotional, because it was the first time she had been back to the hospital since Elizabeth was born.

"All the memories and emotions came flooding back, and it made my concern for William even stronger," she said.

"All the doctors and midwives were fantastic though. I also had faith in the treatment, and knew that every visit was improving William's chances of surviving and being healthy.

"I didn't care if I had to suffer. As far as I was concerned this was going to work and that was that."

Elliott, aged 12, is the oldest of the children, and brother Thomas is seven.