A LOVING mother has told of her anguish as she and her son fought for their lives at the same time.

Lisa Walker had to leave her son, Thomas, three, as he battled leukaemia so she could have heart surgery for the third time in five years.

But she believes that knowing they needed each other, gave them the strength to pull through and they have both been allowed home.

Ms Walker, a single mother of Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, suffers from the heart condition congenital mitral stenosis. The condition means blood flow to the heart is restricted.

She underwent two major operations six years ago, having a valve in her heart replaced by a pig tissue valve, in an effort to cure her.

Ms Walker was then fit and well and gave birth to Thomas in 2002.

But three months ago, Thomas was diagnosed with leukaemia. As Ms Walker, 33, of Trevelyan Drive, nursed her sick son, she became seriously ill and had to have heart surgery.

She said: "When a mother is told her son has leukaemia it is a nightmare. But then, when I was in hospital with him, I had to leave to have surgery myself."

Thomas's form of cancer is lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Ms Walker said: "Thomas has to have chemotherapy for the next three years. He has lost his hair and eyelashes but they are starting to grow back now.

"I missed those cuddles from him when I was in hospital and he missed me being with him.

"We just have to wait and see how he does now. He is a little battler and we hope everything will turn out fine."