AFTER being diagnosed with a hole in the heart at birth, Pauline Ginn thought she would never be able to have children.

But thanks to her determination and dedication of staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital she now has a boy and a girl of her own.

And Mrs Ginn has vowed to support the Bolton Evening News Back The Baby Unit campaign.

We are calling on our readers to back the Royal Bolton Hospital's bid to become one of three new super centres for the care of babies and children in the Greater Manchester region.

She said: "The facilities at the Royal Bolton Hospital are absolutely fantastic and the staff are just amazing. I'm totally behind the Bolton Evening News campaign and think everyone in the borough should be, too."

Mrs Ginn, aged 45, was born with a hole in her heart, but thought the problem had cleared up until she went for a routine check-up to make sure it was safe for her to have children.

She was devastated to learn the hole had grown and that she would need an urgent operation - or be dead by the time she was 30.

She was also told that she should never have children.

At just 23-years-old, Mrs Ginn had surgery to have the problem repaired with a patch.

Three years later daughter Emma was born at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Seven years ago the Ginn's were delighted to learn they were expecting their second child, Adam, who was born at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

But this pregnancy did not run so smoothly.

Mrs Ginn was diagnosed with the life-threatening pulmonary hypertension, a serious lung disease, and Adam was born four weeks early, weighing just 4lbs 12oz.

He had to be rushed into the neonatal unit at the hospital, while doctors battled to save his mum's life.

Mrs Ginn said: "We had a 12-year-old daughter and I was in intensive care, while my son was in the neonatal unit.

"The nurses caring for both me and Adam made sure we bonded, bringing him to see me, even when I was totally out of it on morphine.

"They were fantastic and really went above and beyond."

Ladybridge primary pupil Adam, now aged seven, is a healthy and happy little boy, although Mrs Ginn has had to leave her job as an administration manager at MFI because of her condition.

If the Royal Bolton Hospital is chosen as one of the three super centres for babies and children, there will be investment in its facilities, which will be significantly expanded.

If it is not picked, the current neonatal unit will close, meaning critically ill babies will have to be transferred out of the borough.

To back our campaign, please complete and return the coupon printed here.