A BABY fighting a serious liver problem could die within 14 days if he does not receive a transplant.

Five-month-old Lennox Nicholson is fighting for life in St James University Hospital, Leeds. His parents have been told a transplant is his only chance of survival.

The youngster, who was born on June 21 at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, has been treated with 20 life-sustaining drugs for two months.

Lennox was born a healthy baby, but five weeks after his birth, he developed jaundice and tests revealed he had a serious liver problem.

Parents Simon, 21, and Amy, 20, of Oak Road, Guisborough, east Cleveland, are at his side.

Mr Nicholson said: "Every day he gets a bit weaker and we have been told he must have a transplant within the next fortnight to survive.

"He's just skin and bones, but if he gets a liver he can have a completely normal life."

Mrs Nicholson said: "At first there seemed nothing wrong, he was just a happy baby.

"At seven weeks, he went to hospital for a liver biopsy and then had to endure an eight-hour operation as his bile ducts were blocked.

"They had to attach his small intestine to his liver to try and drain the bile away.

"We had to wait three agonising months to see if the operation had worked - but it did not."

Lennox has suffered other complications - a fluid leak in his abdomen, a blocked vein in his liver, hernias and a serious infection.

Doctors say Lennox needs the left lobe of an adult liver, which will then gradually regenerate to full size.

The donor liver would have to be the correct blood and tissue match.

l Anyone wanting to help the family can call Claire Burbage on (01642) 247645.