A Great Cornard mum organised a pyjama party to thank a charity for their support after her five-day-old son needed lifesaving treatment at a hospital more than 35 miles away.

Christina Mitcham held the party at Anglia Sunshine Nursery in Sudbury as a thank you to the Sick Children’s Trust for keeping their family together at a very difficult time.

Christina and husband James’ son Charlie was born at 29 weeks, weighing just 2lbs 12oz at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

Despite Charlie coping well at first, after five days the parents were told he had contracted sepsis, which resulted in severe kidney failure.

He was rushed to the Rosie Hospital at Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge for lifesaving treatment and remained there for 63 days.

During this time Christina and James were supported at The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Home from Home’ Chestnut House.

Christina, 27, said: “When we arrived at the Rosie, we were told the next 24 hours were critical. He wasn’t expected to make it through his treatment.

“I didn’t know what to do with myself and we were completely terrified about what was to come.

“Thankfully we were offered a room at Chestnut House where we were allowed to stay until Charlie got better. We ended up staying for a total of nine weeks and it really did become a home from home. It was a lifeline in such a horrendous situation.”

Charlie was able to return home with this parents after two and half months but in August this year, just after his first birthday, the family faced another set-back.

The one-year-old was rushed back to Addenbrooke’s Hospital after it was discovered his tongue was growing quicker than his jaw – which was causing his airways to be blocked.

The parents did not have to leave their son’s bedside thanks to further support from the Sick Children’s Trust – this time at Acorn House.

Christina said: “Acorn House offered us a safe retreat away from the wards and it was so reassuring to know we had somewhere comfortable and private to go if it all got a bit too much – somewhere to make a cuppa or sleep.”

The mum, who was worked at Anglia Sunshine Nursery for six years, said lots of children joined in the fun on Friday to raise money for the charity, which is still being counted.