A DARLINGTON couple who endured every parent’s worst nightmare when their newborn baby became seriously ill are fundraising for a charity that helped them.

Stuart and Marie Mathers knew that something was terribly wrong with their son Bertie when he would not stop projectile vomiting days after taking him home from hospital.

After calling 111 they were advised to take him to Darlington Memorial Hospital and three days later he was transferred to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) where he was diagnosed with a disorder where the muscle connecting his stomach and intestine was being restricted.

At just four-weeks-old Bertie underwent stomach surgery and the Mathers were given accommodation at The Sick Children’s Trust’s Crawford House so they could remain by his side.

Thankfully he recovered from his ordeal and now Mr and Mrs Mathers are walking 20-miles from Bridlington to Filey on August 13 to raise money for the children’s charity.

Mr Mathers said: “Despite being first time parents we just knew something was wrong.

“It was a very stressful, worrying and exhausting time for both of us.

“It was extremely hard for Marie as Bertie really wanted feeding, but we weren’t allowed, so he would just scream and cry.”

Mr Mathers, an area sales manager, said the family were grateful for being able to stay at Crawford House and wanted to give something back to the charity.

He said: “It gave Marie some rest which she desperately needed and a space to clear her head. It meant we could be there for Bertie and support him when he needed it the most.

“Without Crawford House, our situation would have been much worse.”

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