A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has been honoured for helping to save his mother's life.

Denise Reay suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a rare muscle-wasting disease.

The condition was diagnosed five years ago after she sprained her ankle, leaving her foot twisted and almost at right angles to her leg.

Since then, her son Stephen has acted as her carer, helping her cook meals and to look after his younger brother.

He also has an encyclopaedic knowledge about the illness, which he has used to save her life several times, most recently three weeks ago.

He said: "I heard a bang and knew my mum had fallen.

"I rang another carer who told me to ring for an ambulance and when it arrived I had to help the crew. I had to tell them not to touch her leg as it would hurt her, and also had to explain all the medication she was on.

"If they had given her a lot of morphine, it could have been really dangerous."

If Stephen had not been on hand to help, Mrs Reay believes the consequences could have been worse.

She said: "I don't know what I would do without him. If he hadn't been there to give advice, I could have died.

"I can't tell him how grateful I am as words aren't enough."

The family, from Hartlepool, face their toughest challenge yet when Mrs Reay undergoes a major operation on her leg later this month.

The operation, which it is hoped will straighten her leg, carries a high risk.

Mrs Reay said: "If it is a success, I could walk again, but I couldn't go through it without Stephen."

Stephen was nominated for his Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award by Carolyn Roberts, headteacher at St Hild's School.