MIRACLE mum Gillian O'Doherty cuddles her son, catching up on lost time after a six-month battle with septicaemia.

And as soccer star Colin Hendry's wife continues to be treated in intensive care after more than a month in hospital with the blood infection, Gillian's family have passed on a simple message of support: "Be strong".

Denise Hendry's condition remains poorly but stable in the Royal Preston Hospital after she developed blood poisoning following a liposuction operation at a private hospital.

Denise's plight is one which is all too familiar to the O'Dohertys, who live in Little Lever, Bolton.

At one stage doctors at the Royal Bolton Hospital told Gillian's relatives that she only had hours to live after her body became infected with septicaemia.

But she fought back from the brink of death to be reunited with her new-born son and her devoted husband, Peter.

Peter said: "I know exactly what Colin Hendry is going through. I remember sitting day after day in intensive care watching my wife breathe with the help of a life support machine.

"Words cannot describe how I felt. It was absolutely heart-breaking."

Gillian became pregnant last summer and began suffering from severe stomach pains. Doctors said she needed an operation to have gallstones removed but due to her pregnancy decided to wait until after the birth before carrying out the minor operation.

Two days after giving birth to her son James, Gillian went into the Royal Bolton Hospital for a simple camera investigation in her stomach.

She was supposed to be admitted for just one night -- but her stay in hospital was to last a further 100 days.

Doctors discovered Gillian's stomach contained more than 300 gall stones -- a rare condition unusual in a woman so young -- and she needed urgent surgery.

But the 24-year-old failed to fully recover as complications developed.

Septicaemia set in weeks after and she was first placed on the high dependency unit before being put on a life support machine in intensive acre.

Gillian, who has been left deaf in one ear, said: "I don't remember much about it except waking up in intensive care on Christmas Eve and being very upset that I was missing James's first Christmas.

"I was very scared -- it was lit up like the starship enterprise. I can't remember much about James as I was on many drugs."

Her husband, however, has clearer memories, which he says will stay with him all of his life.

He said: "On Christmas Day, Gillian was taken off the life support machine and started breathing for herself. It was the best Christmas I had ever had!

"Gillian has started to improve over the last month and we are now enjoying a normal life together at home."

As a special thank-you, family and friends are fund-raising for the intensive care unit.

Punters from two local pubs, the Ring O' Bells in Little Lever and Morris Dancers in Morris Green, Bolton, have already raised more than £1,600.

Peter said: "I can understand what Colin Hendry is going through. All I can say is be strong. There is always hope."