A TODDLER who has battled to survive has spent his first night at home with his family.

Oswaldtwistle couple Kirsty Harris and Damien Hartley were overjoyed when their seriously ill son Carson Hartley was able to come home over Christmas.

The couple had been waiting for last minute approval from doctors on Christmas Eve, when they got the go-ahead at 2pm.

The two-year-old was born with 'blue baby syndrome' which starves the brain of oxygen, and also survived a heart attack when aged only three months. He’s had a number of operations, which have robbed him of his voicebox.

Carson had recently suffered a set back and had to be resuscitated by doctors which had cancelled an earlier plan to go home this month.

However he is now said to be doing well and was able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home before returning to hospital on Boxing Day.

This Christmas he was at home to sleep in his own bed for the first time ever. The family, who have moved to Liverpool to be nearer Carson’s treatment at Alder Hey, had also invited their East Lancashire relatives down to join them. The family said Carson was so overjoyed at being with his family for Christmas, he didn’t want to go back to Alder Hey.

Dad Damien said: “He really just didn’t want to go. When he got back to Alder Hey, he kept shutting his eyes and putting his head down and wouldn’t look at the hospital and was really unhappy. It would be amazing to have him home all the time, it’s been a wonderful few days.”

Carson was also recently awarded the Tommy Champion Children Award and has been invited to a glittering ceremony to receive it this spring. However attending the awards with a support carer and special travel arrangements is likely to be a huge expense.

The family are looking to fundraise to make the trip possible so Carson can receive his award in London. Any support or fundraising ideas can be passed on to the family by emailing emma.cruces@nqnw.co.uk