A TODDLER who was “brought back from the dead” after being struck down by meningitis returned home to celebrate his third birthday.

Mason O’Brien was allowed out of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on day release to join his parents, grandmother, two brothers and sister at their home in Blackburn.

But his family have vowed to throw a ‘proper party’ when brave Mason is released from hospital for good after fighting back from potentially deadly meningococcal septicemia meningitis.

The toddler was found ill in his bed at home in Fowler Height Close, Livesey, last month by his mum Emma, 26, who struggled to wake him and found a rash on his back.

After spotting the signs of meningitis, Emma called an ambulance and Mason was transferred to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Once there, Mason stopped breathing as doctors performed tests, but he was resuscitated and transferred to hospital in Manchester.

As Emma and Mason’s dad Lee, 29, kept vigil, the toddler remained on a life support machine for nine days before his condition finally improved.

Doctors said he was well enough to return home for the day to celebrate his birthday with brothers Connor, six, and Adam, five, and three-year-old sister Katie.

Emma said: “It was brilliant for him to come home and have his family and friends around him, if only for a day.

“He had plenty of presents to open but we have not had a proper party for him yet as he’s not ready.

“As soon as he’s fit and healthy again, we will throw him a proper party and celebrate properly.”

Mason’s ordeal has left him with black toes and he still has a rash, but doctors are optimistic he could be fit enough to return home for good within weeks.

Emma said: “It has been a horrible ordeal that I would not wish on anyone.

“But Mason is a real battler and the doctors said it was a miracle he did not lose any limbs because he lost feeling in them.”

Lee said: “He has been so brave. There was one point when we did not think he would pull through.”