Scots mum's joy as little boy battles back from rare disease that left him fighting for life

A Scots mum has told of her joy after her little boy overcame a rare disease that left him fighting for life.

Little Harry Smart was so ill that his heartbroken parents Sarah and Callum couldn't hold him for the first month of his life as he was placed on a ventilator.

The tot was born more than three months premature and spent another three months in Aberdeen Neonatal Unit battling to survive after being diagnosed with non immune fetal hydrops.

Sarah held Harry for the first time when he was a month old (Archie Foundation)

The rare condition which caused his body to swell up due to fluid build-up inside his body which in turn, was crushing his organs.

Now Sarah said the family, from Alford, Aberdeenshire, is happy together having just celebrated Harry's second birthday in January.

The 23-year-old said: "There were times when it was heartbreaking and we didn't know if he would make it through.

"Right from the start it was really scary and worrying him being so early.

"He was taken right from us and to begin with doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong.

The happy family are together (Archie Foundation)

"It is really amazing for us to now watch him turn two."

Harry was ventilated for over a month due to his lungs being so small which resulted in him also having chronic lung disease.

Due to the build-up of fluid in Harry’s body, his bowl ruptured at just one month old and he underwent emergency surgery which was successful. .

Harry with his parents (Handout)

Harry left the unit to go home with his mum and dad at three months old, but due to his fragile lungs had to be on home oxygen for nine months.

Sarah said: “There were extremely difficult times whilst Harry was in Intensive care, his lungs were collapsing, and the medical team weren’t sure if he was going to make it and it was just heart-breaking

"One of the hardest parts was being stuck there feeling like I couldn't do anything.

"It was heartbreaking to see everyone with their babies in the hospital while Harry was stuck on the ventilator.

"But now things are brighter for us and we are just so happy to look to the future."

The family have raised a massive £8,010 for the Archie Foundation charity after the support they have received.