A THREE-year-old boy has had his leg amputated to above the knee after being struck down with meningitis.

Identical twin Thomas Procter-Whitham is fighting for his life at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after being diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia.

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The brave youngster from Laneshawbridge had emergency surgery to remove part of his left leg and stop blood poisoning spreading and shutting down his organs.

His mum Zoe Procter, who has kept a vigil by her son’s bedside, had been told by doctors on several occasions to ‘prepare for the worst’.

And although he is now breathing on his own, Thomas’ family have been told that it is now a waiting game to see if he has suffered any brain damage.

Miss Procter said Thomas had been under the weather for a couple of days before he developed breathing difficulties and she decided to take him to the urgent care centre at Burnley General Hospital.

In the car on the way, she said she looked in the mirror and noticed his eyes had rolled back in his head.

The 30-year-old said: “When I saw him I just started screaming. I knew I had to get to hospital but it was terrifying.

“I carried him in to the urgent care centre and they found out that his blood sugar levels had plummeted and said he had a seizure in the car.

“The staff were amazing and blue-lighted Thomas to Royal Blackburn Hospital.”

While he was at hospital doctors spotted a pin-prick-type rash appear on his stomach and another on his arm, and delivered the devastating news that he could have meningitis - an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

This infection can cause these membranes to become inflamed, which in some cases can damage the nerves and brain.

The mother-of-three said: “As he was so ill he had to have a hole drilled into his leg to administer the medication to try to save his life.

“We had to be sent out of the room, and then they came in and told us that his heart had stopped for four minutes, they had had to revive him, and were doing everything they could.

“He had to have the biggest doses of everything including adrenaline to keep him alive.

“It was absolutely horrific. He he had effectively died.

“After they had managed to get him back he was completely blue as his circulation had stopped.”

Miss Procter and Thomas’ father Adam Whitham were then given the heart-breaking news again that his condition was ‘so serious’ he may not survive.

As the youngster was transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, he was put in isolation as the infection started to spread to his blood.

Doctors then decided the only way to save his life was to amputate his infected left leg.

Thomas’ family said he is regularly getting visits from his identical twin brother George and big brother Braxton, five, who desperately hope he recovers.

Miss Procter added: “Thomas had an MRI scan which showed that he had two bleeds on the brain.

“He is now off life support and is breathing on his own. He is opening his eyes but isn’t focusing.

“It is now just a waiting game to see if he has suffered any brain damage.

“We have been told that he could be in hospital for anywhere from six months to a year.”

Miss Procter, a care worker is now urging other parents to trust their instincts and get medical advice if they think something is wrong with their child’s health.

She also thanked the community for their support and for setting up fundraising campaigns to help the family remain at Thomas’ bedside.

Colne resident Matthew Eyre will be collecting money for the family from 10am to 1pm outside Colne Market Hall on Saturday.

He has been offered donations if he dresses in pink.

To make a donation visit www.gofundme.com/n1tifw.