A NORTH West specialist unit is set to receive a vote of thanks from a nine month old baby.

Lewis Mitten was born 14 weeks early and his first five months of life were spent clinging to life in the Neonatal Unit at Salford's Hope Hospital.

Today Lewis and his parents Kathy and Steve, of Flixton, Manchester and his sister Amy, will present a cheque for £254 to the unit.

Lewis now weighs in at a bouncing 16lbs. He is on solids and has two teeth but still needs to have oxygen at home.

"The staff are wonderful. Lewis would not be here but for their care but they did say he is a little fighter and wouldn't give in," said Kathy.

It is only now that Kathy feels able to talk about those difficult early months and now she wants to help other mothers whose babies are on the neonatal unit.

"I want to offer to talk to the mothers because we found that time when Lewis was in hospital really difficult to handle.

"Only if you have been through it can you really understand how alone and desperate you feel, despite the support of the staff."

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