A MOTHER hopes to raise funds for the hospitals that saved her son’s life.

Laura Hollinshead learnt her son, Dylan, had a hole in his heart following an antenatal scan. Moments after his birth, at the Royal Manchester Hospital, he was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, in Liverpool.

“It was awful,” said Miss Hollinshead.

“I had a well child and an extremely ill child, who didn’t look like he was going to make it. We weren’t given very good odds.”

Dylan was given a 20 per cent chance of survival. His first operation, at 16 days old, lasted nearly eight hours.

But he beat the odds and later survived a second 12-and-a-half hour operation more than 12 months later.

Alhough he will eventually need a transplant, his condition is presently managed with medication.

He attends Le Cateau school, in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, where the family live. He and his sister, Emma, will be four in May.

“He knows he has a poorly heart and one day he will have it fixed,” said Miss Hollinshead. “He loves to show his scar to strangers. He’s brilliant.”

Miss Hollinshead wants to raise awareness of Dylan’s condition to help other youngsters and she hopes The Big Red Gig, organised by best friend Ashleigh Barker, will raise funds for vital research.

The money will be split between the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, and the British Heart Foundation.

The gig is on February 26, at 7pm, at the Richmond Centre, Munster Barracks.

It will feature live entertainment, rock band Saturn Ruins, a buffet, raffle and a disco. Tickets cost £3 from Ms Barker on 07856-251661.