A LITTLE fighter from York who was struck down by chronic liver disease before he was a month old has bounced back in aid of the charity which has supported his family.

Owen Targett was diagnosed with the rare and potentially deadly condition biliary atresia in the first weeks of his life, leaving him weak, thin and jaundiced and his parents in turmoil.

Now the four-month-old is setting out on the long road to recovery from the illness, which causes irreversible liver damage – and, with his big sister Kinvara and mum and dad Fleur and James, he joined in a Tigger Bounce at their Naburn home to back the Big Yellow Friday fundraising push run by the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

The youngsters recreated the favourite pastime of the Winnie The Pooh character, as well as playing other games with friends, and Mrs Targett said they wanted to get involved because of CLDF’s role as a “true lifeline” to the family.

“Owen had to go back into York Hospital when he was 22 days old and was diagnosed with biliary atresia a week later,” she said.

"Within days, we were at the specialist paediatric liver centre at St James’ University Hospital in Leeds – we were utterly shell-shocked. The walk to surgery with Owen in my arms was terrifying. Days later, as the effect of the morphine lifted, he began to recover and fairly soon he was no longer ‘Simpsons yellow’ and began to gain weight. Although Owen is doing well, we know we’re on a long road. He may need a liver transplant in the coming years and he requires regular monitoring and specialist care.

“But he is a lovely little boy and so calm and chilled out. Since his diagnosis, CLDF has been a true lifeline to us, with their family support team on hand from the day his liver disease was diagnosed, giving us vital information and advice and listening to our worries. I want that same support for other families, which is why we took part.”

More information about CLDF’s work supporting families affected by more than 100 kinds of liver disease is available at childliverdisease.org or by phoning 0121 212 3839.