THE mum of an eight-week-old boy who has spent most of his life in hospital has backed The Press's Guardian Angels appeal.

Sarah McCartan, 24, has faced almost daily trips to York Hospital's special care baby unit since her son, Jack Lane, was born on February 6.

He was six weeks premature, had breathing problems and was put on a ventilator before spending four weeks being cared for by nurses.

After going home for a fortnight, he suffered bronchiolitis and another chest infection and, as a result, had a fit and stopped breathing.

Sarah said: "I was distraught. Me and my partner just spent the whole day crying. We didn't know what to do with ourselves.

"We did not know if he was going to start breathing again. To see him turn grey, it was like he was fading away. It was really frightening."

Jack was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where there is a specialist ventilator and dedicated nurse on hand.

Sarah, who lives in Fostergate, Selby, with her partner, Richard Lane, 27, a bin man, and their children Ruby, one, and Ryan, seven, praised the dedication of the nurses in York.

She said: "They have been extremely supportive and have always helped.

"They have helped with the other children when I have gone with them. They have made life really easy for us."

But she said it would have been far better if her family had not had to travel to Leeds.

She said: "Why can't York have the same as Leeds does? It would be so much easier for families if they were able to have their children at York."

The Guardian Angels appeal aims to raise £300,000 to fund two high-dependency rooms at York Hospital with new, specialised equipment.

The unit would be the first of its kind in the region that could deal with youngsters arriving as emergencies and a specialist nurse will care solely for the children.

So far, £143,000 has been raised and Sarah has pledged to hold a raffle to help the appeal.

Maureen Augey, Guardian Angels project nurse at York Hospital, said having a high-dependency unit would have made caring for Jack much easier.

She said: "We've got monitors, but they're not as good as the new ones we're going to buy. When the room is well equipped, it will just make the whole experience pleasanter and less stressful for the parents and for the child.

"Jack would probably still have had to go to Leeds, but possibly would have come back a bit earlier."

Sarah said she was now looking forward to having Jack home, as he finishes a course of antibiotics at York Hospital.