TWENTY-ONE years ago, doctors at Whiston Hospital gave James Gilgannon no chance of survival after he was born five weeks early with severe breathing difficulties.

But he proved everyone wrong and today he is a strapping six-footer who weighs in at 15 stone.

It was a traumatic time for James' parents, Mavis and Gerard, and when with the help of medics James pulled through, Mavis decided to do as much as she could for the special care baby unit at Whiston Hospital.

When James was 10 months old Mavis appealed through the Star for donations, she was inundated with phone calls and decided to set up an association called the Friends of the Special Care Baby Unit and Whiston Maternity Hospital.

Within 11 weeks of James' story appearing in the Star, the association spearheaded by Mavis had raised enough money for a ventilator, and over the last 21 years the group has bought many invaluable pieces of equipment, which have helped to save the lives of countless babies.

Today thanks to the special care he received at Whiston and Alder Hey, James, who works at the Wyevale Garden Centre, is looking forward to a career in retail management having just completed a HND in Business Studies at St Helens College.

Mavis of Central Avenue, Eccleston Park, recalls: "I was 44 when I had James and in those days I was considered to be quite old to be having a child. I already had three older children and when I found out I was having James it was something of a surprise.

"He was born five weeks early and although he was over 7lb - which is normally quite a healthy weight - James had severe breathing difficulties and wasn't expected to live. Whiston Hospital didn't have a ventilator and it was decided to rush him to Alder Hey Childrens Hospital - but before leaving Whiston at midnight James was baptised.

"It was dreadful to think that he might not survive, but when he beat all the odds I knew I had to do something to thank Whiston Hospital for the special care they had given to us. The special care baby unit desperately needed equipment and I decided that raising the money was the best way I could thank them."

The Friends of the Special Care Baby Unit and Whiston Maternity Hospital disbanded in 1994 having raised in excess of a £250,000.Donations are now made to an endowment fund for the special care baby unit.

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