A Downham baby with complex breathing problems has left hospital for the first time in almost a year to celebrate his birthday thanks to a special buggy.

One-year-old Jayson Dennison has a tracheostomy in place and has been a patient at Evangelina Children’s Hospital in central London since August 1 last year.

He needs bulky equipment with him at all times – a ventilator, suction machine and saturation monitor- but a special buggy has allowed him to get out and about.

Mum Tiffany Dennison said: “We have to be confident about loading all of the equipment onto the buggy so we are practicing on the ward at the moment.

“We are taking him out independently before the medical team discharges him.

“Once he is home, it will make life so much better for Jayson and easier for the whole family.

“We will be able to take his older brother and sister out – and Jayson will be safe and comfortable.”

She added: “Without this buggy Jayson’s discharge from hospital would be delayed because he can’t go anywhere without his support equipment.”

The charity Newlife, which provides specialist equipment for disabled and terminally ill children, paid for the buggy with the support of donations from River Island.

Tiffany said: “To be able to get Jayson out and about and to all of his medical appointments we were told we would need a specialist buggy to keep him properly positioned and to carry all of his equipment, but these are expensive and there is no funding available through local statutory services.

“So Jayson’s occupational therapist at the hospital told us about Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children and how they help families like ours.”

Newlife CEO Sheila Brown, OBE, said: “As local authority budget cuts continue to bite, more and more families are turning to charities like Newlife for specialist equipment which can have a significant effect on young lives.

“Having the national support of River Island is an enormous boost for us.”