THE parents of a four-month-old boy who died in their arms have paid tribute to hospital staff who made his short life a happy one.

Rocco Alex Williams died at Queen's Park Hospital, in Blackburn, in the early hours of January 2 from a kidney problems, which arose from a rare genetic disorder.

Parents Matt Williams and Roxanne Gregory, had been warned all along their first child would not live to see his first birthday and today said they were grateful for their time with him.

And they have appealed for donations to go to the hospital, whose staff they described as "wonderful."

Roxanne was five months pregnant when she and partner Matt, of Broadfield, Oswaldtwistle, were told that Rocco suffered from a genetic disorder known as trimosy, which affecrted chromosome 16.

They were told their baby would not live long -- and it might not be born at all.

Matt, a corporate finance adviser for a company in Manchester, said: "Doctors said Rocco might not make it through the pregnancy. If he was born alive, we were told to prepare for him dying pretty much straight away."

Rocco did survive the pregnancy and was born at Queen's Park Hospital on August 16 , one week late and weighed 4lb 9ozs.

He was placed on an incubator in the hospital's neo-natal unit and Matt said his early hours were "touch and go."

Matt and Roxanne decided to baptise Rocco the same day and, surrounded by the family, a service was conducted by the hospital's minister.

Two weeks later Rocco was taken to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, after developing kidney problems. He then developed a chest infection and was placed on an life-support machine for two weeks.

Matt, 27, and Roxanne, 22, were again told to prepare for the worst.

Matt said: "The nurses said he would not make it when he came off the ventilator, so we prepared to say goodbye. All the family came to see him but when they took him off he kept going, much to everyone's amazement.

"He was fighting all the way."

Rocco was taken back to Queen's Park and was deemed well enough to allow Matt and Roxanne to take him on day trips.

After spending Christmas with him, Rocco became ill on New Year's Day and died in Matt's arms.

Roxanne, a pharmaceutical assistant at Moss Chemist, in Blackburn, said: "We had been prepared for a long time, but secretly we thought he would get over this latest setback.

The funeral was due to be held today at Immanuel Parish Church, Oswaldtwistle, before he was laid to rest at Accrington Cemetery. Matt and Roxanne are asking for donations for the hospital.

Matt said: "We cannot thank them enough, they were superb with Rocco and gave him excellent care.

A spokesman for Unique, a support group for people touched by rare chromosome disorders: "Trisomy 16 is an extremely rare condition although some children can live through it."

Donations should be made c/o Wolstenholme Funeral Service, Willows Lane, Accrington.