MONTHS of heartache melted in an instant when an MRI scan showed that the unborn child his parents believed to be badly brain damaged was in fact fighting fit.

And Mrs Audrey Wilson and her husband Garry, of Turncroft, Darwen, today pledged their support for the SuperScan Appeal, to bring an MRI scanner to East Lancashire.

A year later Alexander Wilson is a happy, intelligent toddler who enjoys playing with his friends at nursery school, unaware of the months of worry his parents suffered after they were told he to expect him to have the brain crippling Edward's Syndrome.

"The pregnancy came as a complete surprise," Audrey said. "I just felt a bit tired and run down and because I was a little bit older I didn't suspect anything at all.

"When we were told by doctors that there was something wrong we were devastated. With Edward's Syndrome the baby looks normal but only has half a brain and only usually lives a few years.

"We were too stunned to take on what it actually meant. We were told we could have an MRI scan to make absolutely sure that this was the case." It was on Christmas Eve 1993 when the couple attended St Mary's Hospital in Manchester to have the scan and Audrey was five months pregnant.

"They were all so nice and sympathetic to me," she said. "The scan lasted about an hour and a half and they looked at the baby from every angle, even in its mouth. Afterwards we had a discussion with the doctors and we couldn't believe it when they told me the baby was alright.

"We walked round Manchester and were near to tears. Apparently the abnormal gene that they detected was to do with the laboratory conditions and it was a thousand million to one chance that this could happen. We'll never have another Christmas like that one."

Alexander was born fit and well in May of last year and he is now an active member of Les Enfants Nursery School, Darwen.

"It could have been so different if I hadn't decided to have the scan and that's why it's so important to have a scanner here."

Audrey added. "We want to support the cause and want to help people who might have to go through a similar ordeal."

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