A mum who lost two young sons to a rare genetic condition had a surprise visit from a famous face to thank her for her work helping others.

Vicki Read became a carer after the death of her sons Sidney and Freddie, both aged three, who suffered from a rare genetic condition called Alpers Disease.

They were both in the care of the hospice charity ellenor when they died.

Sidney was deaf, almost blind, tube fed, suffered constant horrific seizures, had severe breathing difficulties, could not talk, walk, sit or smile.

Vicki said: “He suffered constant hospital admissions and numerous tests.

“To get him home, we needed massive help from the ellenor team and, with their help, we gave Sidney a quality of life.”

“Vicki’s story is endlessly inspiring so I was thrilled to be able to surprise her." - Charlotte Hawkins.

Aged three and by then with a healthy little sister, Sidney was due to be an angel in his nursery Nativity play, but he died that morning.

Freddie was born two years later but there were no tests to find out if he, or his sister, would have the same disease.

“Freddie fell ill at 14 weeks and our world collapsed around us once again but ellenor was there to support us,” said Vicki.

“Without the support and friendship of all the ellenor team we, as a family, would never have been able to cope.

“We will be eternally grateful to them all.”

Freddie went to the same nursery as his big brother and did get to be an angel in the nativity play. He died two months later.

Good Morning presenter Charlotte Hawkins, a patron for ellenor, visited Vicki at a young patient’s home in Gravesend last week .

She presented her with flowers and a Health Star certificate as she looked after 16-year-old Cameron Edmonds, who has Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.

His family thanked Vicki for going “above and beyond” in her efforts to care for him.

Vicki is one of a team of carers at ellenor, who provide vital respite care in a child’s own home, so the family can have a break – very often to catch up on sleep after many nights without rest or perhaps to spend time with another child.

Cameron also has medical support from ellenor nurses and he attends ellenor’s monthly Youth Club.

Charlotte said: “Vicki’s story is endlessly inspiring so I was thrilled to be able to surprise her.

“The work which ellenor does providing support to families facing terminal illness is so vital and I am proud to be a patron for the charity.”