Last updated at 12:33, Friday, 08 February 2013

A Maryport family will thank the hospital that saved their baby son’s life with a fund-raising event next week.

GIFT OF LIFE: Little Jack Stuart, with mum Kerry Walker and dad Tony Stuart, at home in Maryport after being diagnosed with two holes in his heart when he was eight weeks old

Jack Stuart was rushed to Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital for surgery as it was discovered he had two holes in his heart when he was eight weeks old.

Mum Kerry Walker, of Gilmour Street, said she and Jack’s father Tony Stuart were in shock at the seriousness of the situation.

Kerry, Tony and Tony’s mum Sadie Fisher rushed Jack to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven where tests revealed that he had a small hole in his heart.

It was only when he was transferred to Newcastle as an outpatient that a second, much larger hole was discovered.

Kerry said: “We had gone there for the day and ended up being there for 10 days.

“The hospital was fantastic. I was allowed to stay with Jack until after his operation when he was in intensive care.

“They gave Tony a flat to stay in and I stayed there with him when Jack came out of surgery.

“The staff were so good. They gave us tokens for cheap meals and looked after us as well as Jack.”

Sadie said that a fund-raising event at Maryport Navy Club next Friday would be a chance to thank the hospital and celebrate a good news story.

Jack, now a healthy seven months old, will return to the Freeman Hospital for annual checks, but Kerry said: “He’s a happy, normal baby now.

“I want to thank the Freeman, my family and all those who helped, and not least my three teenage kids who looked after themselves during that period.”

The event will start at 7pm with entertainment from Billy Steel, Gordon Mattinson, Just Jock, Billy Lowes, Val Stockdale and Mick Grace. There will be tombola and a raffle.

Tickets are £3, available from the navy club on South Quay.

First published at 12:20, Friday, 08 February 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk