A mum has told of her "living nightmare" when her newborn had to be rushed to a specialist hospital after she went pale and floppy just days after being brought home.

Stephanie Ashton-Jones, of Gravesend, described how her daughter, Grace, was born eight weeks early in January last year.

After spending 18 days in Darent Valley Special Care Baby Unit in Dartford, Grace started feeding well and gaining weight, meaning she could be taken home.

But within nine days the family started to notice a difference in her.

Stephanie recalled: "Grace woke up screaming and she would not feed nor could we pacify her.

"We had the neonatal nurse, Kim, coming out that morning so we awaited her visit. When Kim arrived Grace was still screaming.

"She checked her over and told us to keep an eye on her."

Grace, who is now nearly two, had been born with an ovarian cyst which Stephanie and husband Luke were told could twist her ovaries causing her a lot of pain.

As a result, Kim advised that she should be taken to A&E if she started being sick.

"By the time Kim left Grace had settled," continued Stephanie. "I sat for hours with her scared to move in case I hurt her."

Luke, 31, who is a motor technician, came to check on the pair that lunchtime.

Stephanie said: "I am so glad he did as that is when it got a little out of hand."

Grace usually had reddish skin due to having jaundice but when her mum went to change her, she noticed her daughter was pale, so called 111 for guidance.

Within 10 minutes they were being taken back to the hospital as an emergency, which Stephanie said was a "living nightmare".

The 30-year-old added: "She rapidly went downhill. She stopped breathing. She was then ventilated and sedated.

"Within hours of being there we were told to contact our families to basically say our goodbyes."

The family were taken to the neonatal Evelina unit at St Thomas' London where their daughter remained sedated and ventilated for three days.

Tests revealed Grace had contracted sepsis due to a bowel infection.

She was at St Thomas' for just over two weeks where she underwent four courses of different antibiotics which was her main form of treatment.

Grace is now doing well and her ovarian cyst, which can affect one in every 2,500 babies, has also shrunk and disappeared by itself.

While at the Evelina, the parents stayed in a Ronald McDonald House (RMH).

The charity provides two weeks' free accommodation for families whose child is in hospital.

It has 12 houses across the UK to give families a place to rest, eat and relax but still remain as close as possible to their child's hospital bed.

It was there the family discovered how comforting a few toiletries can be.

Being rushed to the hospital meant they did not pack everything they needed, but the house's reception was fully stocked with things to make them feel a little bit better.

She added: "If I knew that it would have everything we needed, it would have just been a relief.

"It was just overwhelming.

"I have never been so grateful to see shower gel, shampoo and deodorant.

"The last thing you think of when having a long day by your child’s side is 'I need shampoo, or deodorant' so coming back to the house and have those facilities there in your private room was just so re-assuring.

"Having a child in hospital you forget about your appearance. We both looked like we had been dragged through a bush backwards for days.

"It was so nice to have that room at the house that we could go back to and make ourself presentable, and more human, just like we would before this happened."

The family are now collecting donations for the Ronald McDonald House charity.

Last year – after seeing an appeal from the charity – Stephanie and Luke asked friends and family for items but this year have set their page public to try to raise more.

They are asking for goods such as shower gel, hairspray, hair bands, sponges, colouring books and stationary.

You can find out more about the appeal and donate via the family's Facebook group here.

If you would like to donate you can also do so via their Amazon Wish-List here.

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here.

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