A FAMILY have told of their heartbreak as their seven-day-old baby fights for life.

Little Faith Cook was born five-and-a-half weeks premature, and is on life support because she cannot breathe for herself.

The family, who have maintained a constant bedside vigil, have been warned that Faith may not live more than a few more days in hospital.

Her mum Helen Benson, 26, said doctors had told them they thought Faith had contracted toxoplasmosis in the womb.

It is a neurological disorder which means that despite having healthy lungs, the sufferer's brain does not allow them to breathe.

The rare condition is contracted from either raw meat or cat faeces. Helen said doctors told her they believe the condition had come from a cat.

The Royal Blackburn Hospital is awaiting the results of tests before confirming the toxoplasmosis diagnosis.

Mrs Benson, of Hope Street, Darwen, said she had been in and out of hospital 'constantly' during the pregnancy and doctors had suspected Faith may have Down’s Syndrome.

But after being born, and unable to breathe on her own, she said doctors told her they thought Faith had toxoplasmosis.

Mrs Benson is being supported by the baby’s father Tom Cook, 31, whom she is now separated from, and her husband Andrew Benson, 46, who she has split from but still lives with in Darwen.

She said: “At the moment it is just the machines that are breathing for her. It has all been such a shock and any mother’s worst nightmare.”

As well as the vigil, Faith was Christened in a ceremony at the hospital on Monday.

Mr Benson, a carer, said: “There has been no improvement in her condition so far and the doctors have told us she probably won’t make it.

“The have found toxoplasmosis in her bloodstream and said that it most likely got there because of cat faeces.

“We are all heartbroken.

“Helen is always so hygienic and it is so hard to imagine where this has comef from.”

The family spoke out to raise awareness of toxoplasmosis and urge others to take extra care to avoid their heartbreak.

Mrs Benson said: “I was so careful during pregnancy and I do not have a pet cat. I have no idea how the condition was transfered to Faith.

“I just want to let other parents know about this devastating thing.

“There is nothing really that we can do for her now but if we can help in any way then we have to do that.

“It is so important to me that we can save other children from this.

“If I have to lose my baby in order to save others from losing theirs then it would be a price worth paying.”

Faith, Mrs Benson’s second child, was born five and a half weeks premature on Thursday at four pounds nine ounces.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite that gets into the bloodstream.

In the UK, approximately 2,000 women a year get the condition while they are pregnant. The affect on the baby depends on how early it is caught, the earlier it happens the worse it is for the child.

Dr Tom Smith, Lancashire Telegraph medical expert, said: “In 40 years as a GP, I have only ever seen two cases and they were both from farming families.

“It is very, very rare, but very serious. Babies who are born with this are likely to be blind and brain-damaged.

“It is transmitted from the mother to the child in the womb and is mainly contracted from dogs and cats.

“Expectant mothers need to be very, very careful around dog and cat dirt, and make sure their hands are completely clean if they come into contact with it.

“They also need to make sure that any animal they have is vaccinated properly.”