A MUM is running a marathon to raise money for the charity which supported her while her daughter underwent life-saving treatment.

Gemma Nelson, 28, and with her husband, Jamie, 29, were elated when their first child, Pollyanna, was born in March last year.

However, at 12-weeks-old, Pollyanna began to suffer from severe constipation.

Gemma rang 111 took her baby to Colchester General Hospital.

Doctors noticed she was breathing erratically and sent her for a chest X-ray, which revealed she had congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Her diaphragm had failed to form correctly and had allowed her bowels and intestines to move into her chest cavity.

Within just a few hours she was moved to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for life-saving surgery.

Gazette: Poorly - Pollyanna at Addenbrooke’s Hospital

Poorly - Pollyanna at Addenbrooke’s Hospital

Gemma, of Colchester, who runs a babywear business, said: “We felt like our lives shattered into a million pieces when we found out our baby had a 50 per cent chance of surviving.

“Doctors advised us that even if she survived the operation, it was likely Pollyanna would suffer from health complications.”

She said they felt lost and helpless while waiting on the paediatric intensive care unit.

The couple were told they could stay at The Sick Children’s Trust’s Acorn House so they could be minutes from their daughter’s bedside.

Gemma said: “The sense of relief we felt was incredible. To be given the opportunity to stay so close to our daughter and never have to be more than a few minutes away was more than we could’ve asked for at that moment.”

They stayed for a week at Acorn House while Pollyanna recovered.

The doctors who operated on her could not believe how she had survived.They were able to move her intestine back into her abdomen and repair the hole in her diaphragm.

Gazette: Recovered - Pollyanna fit and well after life-saving surgery

Gemma added: “Without the Sick Children’s Trust we wouldn’t have been able to be beside our daughter during her time of need and it’s because of the charity so many families can be close to their seriously ill children.”

She is running the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon on April 8 to raise money and awareness for the charity.

She said: “I want to give something back to these incredible people who were there for us and help fund a room for other parents.

“Pollyanna is now 19-months-old and fighting fit. She was so incredibly lucky and in January was given the all clear. She is our little miracle.”

Acorn House Manager, Abi Abdel-aal, said: “When Gemma told us Pollyanna had been given the all clear we were so pleased.

“She is such a gorgeous little girl and to think how distraught Gemma and Jamie were when we met them is horrible.”

Go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gemma-nelson3