PARENTS of a youngster who doctors expected to die within a day have hailed him a hero.

Lucas James, who has fluid on the brain, cerebral palsy and epilepsy, has become the latest nomination in the Child of Courage category of The Sentinel's Our Heroes awards.

The nine-year-old, from Sandyford, has suffered severe medical problems from birth, but has shown his parents Melanie and Paul that he is a true fighter.

Melanie, aged 40, of Russell Place, said: "Lucas has been through such a lot but he is a brave little boy.

"Doctors only gave him 24 hours to live when he was born but he has gone much further than that."

Lucas, a pupil at Fenton's Kemball Special School, needs constant care and takes about 29 doses of medication a day.

He has spent much of his life in and out of hospital and during his most recent spell he was rushed into intensive care.

Melanie, who spends most of her time caring for Lucas but also has a part-time sales assistant job, said: "He went into hospital in February with a bleed in his stomach, but because he lost so much blood he had no iron and had to have a blood transfusion.

"Then his chest went off and he ended up in intensive care for three days."

She added: "Doctors gave us all the bad news that we didn't want to hear.

"I honestly never thought I would take him home let alone send him to school again but after he had been on a ventilator for a while he started to breathe again on his own."

Lucas was back at home for a couple of days and was having respite care at the Donna Louise Children's Hospice when his breathing went bad again and he went back into hospital and intensive care.

However, he was discharged five days later and has not been readmitted since.

Melanie, who has another child 16-year-old Thomas, said: "Lucas was in hospital for eight weeks in all and I did think we had lost him.

"It was like a rollercoaster, but he bounced back."

Delivery driver Paul said the family have lots of special memories of their time with Lucas so far.

The 40-year-old added: "He doesn't know a lot of what is going on but he is very strong.

"The kind of things which have happened to him are unbelievable.

"We have had a few scares with him and every time he goes into hospital we don't think he will come out.

"Every day with him is a bonus for us."

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