AFTER three months in hospital, baby Zack Kerr will spend Christmas Day at home with his family.

But it is a mixed blessing for his mother Kristianne as the one-year-old suffers constant fits, must be fed through a drip and has no control over his limbs.

Kristianne, 20, is being taught by hospital staff how to cope with the needs of her only son who was left brain-damaged after suffering a mystery virus.

Zack, of Hardman Avenue, Rawtenstall, was taken to hospital in late September when Kristianne noticed a rash and suspected measles or meningitis.

He started having fits, developed breathing difficulties and was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.

No specific illness was identified and he returned to Queen's Park, Blackburn, to recover.

He recently underwent a heart scan and is on the waiting list for tests on his brain.

The family pressed for further examinations after they saw a television documentary about the Kawasaki virus - a potentially fatal condition with similar symptoms to measles - and contacted the Kawasaki support group.

But his grandmother, Gillian Howorth, of Broadfield Road, Accrington, says doctors have not suggested this could be the virus infecting Zack.

Zack has been home twice recently for a few hours, but suffered fits on both occasions, the first time being rushed back into hospital for immediate treatment as he stopped breathing.

Gillian said: "My daughter stays by his bedside every day and it's really beginning to take its toll on her.

"We are looking forward to Zack spending Christmas Day with us, but we just wish we knew if he was ever going to get better."

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