Sophie Perren has survived against the odds after developing a million-to-one condition.

About every 21 days, the two-year-old - born with the rare disorder cyclical neutropenia - collapses and often has to be resuscitated by her mother.

A splinter or scratch could be lethal to Sophie, because her body is so susceptible to infection.

She is unable to play with other children, her toys have to be disinfected once a week and the walls and floors of her home scrubbed every day.

Cyclical neutropenia is an immune disorder, which means her white blood cell count can drop suddenly.

Sophie was eight weeks old when her mother, Nancy, first found her unconscious on the living room of their former home in Norton, Teesside.

Sophie, who now lives in Billingham, Teesside, was resuscitated in hospital.

Ms Perren, 38, who can now spot the signs of an attack, said: "The hospital calls me her lifeline."

Ms Parren has set up a support group for parents of other youngsters with immune problems, called Sophie Support.

Haematologist Phil Ancliff, of London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, said the condition affected one in every million children