YOUNG mum Catherine Howard has been able to hold her son Cameron for the first time since he was stricken by the potentially fatal disease meningitis.

Battling two-year-old Padiham tot Cameron, has been taken off the ventilator that has kept him alive for nearly two weeks.

He is still undergoing kidney dialysis in the intensive care unit of St James Hospital, Leeds.

Catherine, who is soon to be 21, has been at her son's bedside throughout his struggle, but only when he was taken off the ventilator was she allowed to hold him.

Grandma Janet, of Burns Street, Padiham, has provided her daughter with moral support and is now looking forward to seeing Cameron back on a ward and fighting his way back to health. Cameron was initially taken to Burnley General Hospital, but his condition was so serious he needed a specialist children's intensive care bed.

All the beds in Manchester were occupied, so Cameron had to be taken on a 45-mile trip to the famous university hospital featured in the TV programme Jimmy's.

He was given just three hours to live when he arrived. He battled through but, 24 hours later, he suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be revived by doctors.

The family are planning a joint 21st birthday and welcome home party for Catherine and Cameron.

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