'It was like living on the edge for us as parents, and it was very destructive for him'

The violent vomiting and chronic stomach aches were symptoms of malrotation, meaning Matthew's bowels and intestines sometimes moved around and twisted.

His parents, Debbie and Colin, of Holme-upon-Spalding Moor, were relieved when a four-hour-operation in Leeds meant Matthew could finally be nursed back to health.

But they are eternally grateful to the staff on York Hospital's children's ward who helped Matthew through his darkest hours.

"He was extremely poorly. He would be violently sick with bad pains and it would go on for maybe 24 hours then he'd make a miraculous recovery for sometimes three or four days," said Debbie, 34.

"Usually, he would be put on a drip because he couldn't tolerate fluids. Sometimes he would have a nose tube as well to drain the bile from his stomach and also his blood sugars used to plummet and they had to give him glucose."

In June, tests revealed Matthew had malrotation and he was referred to Leeds General Infirmary for surgery.

"Before that, he had all kinds of tests," said Debbie. "The staff in York were wonderful. They did everything they could for him.

"They did many X-rays and scans. They did a sweat test for cystic fibrosis but it wasn't that. Then they did a growth hormone test because he was small for his age.

"At his worst, he was being sick every 20 minutes but there wasn't anything to come up and he couldn't sleep.

"It was like living on the edge for us as parents and it was very destructive for him.

"He was very brave - he kept us all going."

Matthew is now a happy six-year-old, looking forward to his birthday next week.

He has been left with a protruding stomach because of fluid retention, which will shrink in time.

Debbie said it was vital people supported the Guardian Angels appeal.

"The children's ward needs everything it can get.

"The nurses do a fantastic job with what they've got, but they need more to be able to make things better for the parents and for the children.

"The money would mean they could get the equipment they need. It would mean the kids get the treatment they need when they need it without equipment having to be taken from somebody else.

"At the moment, there is stress for the nurses having to make those decisions, stress for parents waiting for the equipment and for parents seeing it being taken from their children to be given to somebody else - they need more money."

Does your child owe its life to York Hospital's children's ward? Would you like to share your story to boost our appeal? Phone our newsdesk on 01904 653051 or email newsdesk@ycp.co.uk

How you can help

OUR Evening Press Guardian Angels appeal aims to raise £300,000 to transform high-dependency pediatric care on York Hospital's children's ward.

Your money will fund two life-saving high-dependency rooms with new, specialised equipment.

If you want to make a donation, send cheques or postal orders made out to Evening Press Guardian Angels appeal, to Charlotte Percival, Newsroom, Evening Press, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

Please do not send cash and please do not send donations to the hospital direct.

Updated: 10:25 Monday, November 28, 2005