A GRIEVING mother has paid tribute to her ‘inspiring’ baby who died from an infection while having chemotherapy for a rare disease.

Max James Moment was just 17-months-old when he passed away after battling against langerhans cell histiocytosis, a cancer-like condition which caused a skin rash that would crack and bleed.

His mum, Mikayla Macmillan, of Holden Street, Clitheroe, said her son had been a ‘hero’ through all of his treatment, laughing and smiling with the nurses and doctors.

She said: “He was amazing with what he went through.

“He would teach a lot of adults a lot of things because I do not know many adults that could go through what he went through in 17 months and still be smiling.

“Max was inspiring. What he went through gives you a whole new outlook on life because everything was a fight for him.”

The youngster, who was born in Burnley, was diagnosed with the disease, which affects just 50 children in the UK every year, in April 2013.

After extensive treatment including blood transfusions and chemotherapy, doctors told Miss Macmillan that the prognosis was good.

But soon after, Max’s sister Olivia, five, got chicken pox and, despite receiving an injection to prevent the baby getting it too, he contracted the illness.

Max had more treatment at Manchester Children’s Hospital and had been doing well before he caught another infection and died.

Miss Macmillan, 27, who was Max’s full-time carer, said: “The doctors said it was not the disease that would kill Max, it was an infection.

“He never got to go to the park or anything like that because of the risk of infection or germs.

“Even just a cold could wipe him out.

“I just wanted to wrap him up in cotton wool, but I could not even give him a cuddle because it hurt him so much.”

In April, Max had to be taken by ambulance to the Royal Blackburn Hospital after his condition started to deteriorate. His body went into shock and he passed away.

Michael Singleton, coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, recorded a narrative verdict at Max’s inquest.

He said: “Max succumbed to an overwhelming infection in the context of being immuno suppressed.

“I know there are no words I can express that will take away any of the pain and grief.

“I cannot begin to imagine what that must be like.”