WHEN she picked up the phone to call NHS 111 mum of two Sonia Ellis, pictured right, had no idea the call she was about to make would not only change her family’s life forever but also save the life of her nine-year-old son, Jack.

“When Jack started wetting the bed it was so out of character for him I knew there must be something wrong,” said Sonia, 39, of Chester-le-Street.

“At first I thought he was being bullied, or that he was worried about something at school, but after checking with the teacher I found out everything was fine.

“He’d also being asking for a lot of drinks.

We’d be out shopping and within ten minutes of him finishing a drink he would be asking for another, saying he was thirsty again.

“At the time I just put this down to him playing up. I certainly never thought it was anything to be overly concerned about.”

When the bed wetting continued Sonia’s mum suggested she take Jack to see a doctor to get him checked out, in case anything was wrong.

“I still didn’t think it was cause for concern,”

said Sonia. “In fact, I was thinking about getting him some dry night pyjama pants, just until he got through the phase, but then I realised that I was being ridiculous and that what I really needed was some advice on how best to help Jack.”

When Sonia found the bed wet again one night she decided she needed help and dialled NHS 111.

“My mum had told me about 111 and I’d rung it before, when the children had had a temperature, so I knew they would be able to advise me,” said Sonia.

“The female call hander on the line took all of Jack’s details and symptoms and said that someone would call me back within two hours.

“About five minutes later the phone rang.

This time the call handler was on the line for about half an hour confirming Jack’s details, asking me to check his temperature and going over and over his symptoms once again.”

The call handler advised Sonia take Jack to see a doctor as soon as possible as he was showing all of the signs of having Type 1 diabetes.

“I was absolutely stunned,”

said Sonia.

“I never thought for one moment that Jack’s symptoms could be a sign of diabetes.

“As a parent and a working mum you sometimes go around in your own life bubble, not really expecting anything to go wrong. This was a real bubble bursting moment for me.

“The call handler could obviously tell that I was frantic with worry and she did her absolute best to calm me down, explaining what diabetes was and assuring me that Jack would be okay.

“She told me to keep an eye on his fluid intake and the bed wetting and to take him to see his GP as soon as possible.”

After being seen by a doctor at his local surgery Jack was immediately admitted to hospital where doctors confirmed Type 1 diabetes.

“Jack has been incredibly brave. As a family we have had to learn a lot about diabetes to help him manage his illness,” said Sonia.

“I was told at the hospital that if I hadn’t called NHS 111 Jack’s condition would have got steadily worse and that he would have eventually slipped into a coma.

“I can’t thank NHS 111 enough – they really did help to save my son’s life.”