THERE was a time when little Dominic Gannon's mum and dad thought their son would never see his first birthday. He was rushed into hospital on Christmas Day, clinging to life after contracting the deadly meningitis bug. But yesterday all their fears and worries were pushed to the back of the minds of his parents, Sue and Malcolm, as they watched their son blow out the single candle on his birthday cake.

And the couple, who live in Dale Lee, Westhoughton, made sure their battling boy will have a birthday to remember with dozens of people paying him a visit.

Sue said: "I don't suppose we ever thought we'd see this day at one stage.

"The fortnight that Dominic spent in hospital seemed to last longer than 12 months.

"The rest of the time has just flown and it's great to have him here."

Dominic made a miraculous recovery after being diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis with septicaemia.

Even doctors who treated him after he was transferred to Booth Hall Hospital were amazed at his fight-back.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.