Baby's fight for life (From This Is Lancashire)

Baby's fight for life

7:59am Tuesday 30th October 2007 in

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One kiss from his parents could prove fatal for a Bolton toddler.

Seven-month-old Logan Wilkieson, from Horwich, suffers from a rare genetic disorder which affects his immune system and means the slightest touch could lead to a serious infection.

He is currently being cared for in a special unit at Newcastle General Hospital, where he will soon undergo a course of chemotherapy.

And when Logan is strong enough, he will have a stem cell transplant in a bid to beat the illness that is blighting his life.

His parents, 20-year-old Ruth Lawrie and Gareth Wilkieson, aged 22, have given up their rented family home in Dale Street West, Horwich, and moved nearer to the hospital to be with their son.

Miss Lawrie said: "When the doctor phoned us and told us the results of the blood tests we were devastated.

"He was transferred from the Royal Bolton Hospital to Newcastle straight away and it has been very hard for the whole family.

"We can't even kiss him because he could catch something. He likes to touch my face but he can't do that either."

Logan suffers from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). He was diagnosed with the condition, more commonly known as bubble baby disease, just three weeks ago when his parents realised he was struggling to overcome infections. It affects one in 100,000 babies.

He is at a specialist unit at the hospital - one of only two in the country - that cares for babies with the condition. Everything has to be sterilised before he can touch it.

Those who come into contact with Logan him have to scrub themselves thoroughly beforehand. If he throws anything out of his cot it has to be cleaned before he can touch it again. Even clothes have to be washed at the hospital with special washing powder to prevent Logan reacting to them.

Miss Lawrie said: "He is still happy and giggling at the moment, but we know that he will get worse once the chemotherapy starts.

"We are just looking forward to him getting better and being able to take him home."

Logan, who featured in The Bolton News' Little Darlings competition this year before his illness was diagnosed, is on a course of antibiotics and steroids to help him battle infection.

His bone marrow is not functioning and he is very vulnerable to disease. When he is fit enough, Logan will undergo a stem cell transplant through a blood transfusion which should make his bone marrow work properly.

A stem cell match from another baby has been found at the umbilical cord bank - a collection of cells extracted from the cords of healthy babies minutes after birth. Logan is expected to be in hospital for a minimum of five months.

Friends and family are hoping to organise a charity event to raise awareness of Logan's illness and money for the hospital and family.

Family friend Kim Walls said: "Ruth and Gareth are the bravest people I know. They have been so strong throughout this ordeal, I just don't know how they are doing it.

"We feel helpless because we want to help, but there is very little we can do. We want to take him toys, but there are only certain things he is allowed.

"We pray every day that he will get better and look forward to him coming home."

Logan's progress is being tracked in his online blog. Visit www.littlelogansblog.blogspot.com.