A BOY who medical experts predicted would never live to see his first birthday is preparing to celebrate his ninth Christmas with his family.

Matthew Davis was born with a rare condition that left his heart valves faulty.

His mother, Christina Thompson, said: "We were told he wouldn't make it to one year, but he has made it so far."

Early next year, surgeons will carry out a radical operation to replace his faulty aortic valve with his functioning pulmonary valve, then install a prosthetic valve where the pulmonary valve was.

The family are waiting for a firm date from the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, as they wanted to make sure they would be able to spend Christmas together at their home in Medomsley, near Consett, County Durham.

"We asked to be put on the waiting list because we didn't want the operation to happen before Christmas," said Ms Thompson.

"Matthew is a very frightened little boy at the moment and we didn't want to push him too hard."

Matthew, the third of five children, has undergone several major operations at the Freeman already. In June 1999, heart surgeons carried out two operations in a week to install a prosthetic valve.

The condition has affected Matthew's growth and he cannot do anything that will leave him out of breath, although he is able to attend primary school.

"He is nearly ten, but he looks about six or seven," said Ms Thompson.

"He cannot play like the other children or join in with PE. There is a lot of normal things he cannot do that other children take for granted.

"He is on Warfarin to thin his blood, so we also have to watch out for bruising and cuts.

"But he is as bright as a button and as quick as they come. He understands about his condition, but loves gym and sport. If he can, he will try to sneak into the classes.

"However, teachers at his school are great - they really look after him."

Although he has repeatedly confounded the experts by his fighting spirit, the family recognises that the condition is likely to shorten Matthew's life expectancy and he will need further operations to install new valves as he grows.

Ms Thompson runs the FKC Tools shop in Stanley Indoor Market, in the Clifford Centre, Stanley, County Durham.

"All the people here have been fantastic in their support," she said.

On Saturday, 19-year-old Chris Willis, who works at Park Lane Cards, in the market, was sponsored to have his legs waxed, then dressed up as a saucy Mrs Claus for the day.

"I wanted to do something for Matthew and his family," he said.

Other shops in the centre are accepting donations in collection tins.

All the money will go to the Children's Heart Unit Fund at the Freeman Hospital.