YOUNG Jonathan Parker went back into hospital on his tenth birthday to say thanks to the people who saved his life.

He wanted to do something memorable to mark the occasion of reaching "double figures", and so he donated money given to him by his family for a birthday present to the Special Baby Care unit at Burnley General Hospital.

Today, Jonathan, of Langdale Rise, Colne, is a football-crazy lad who enjoys life at Christ Church School.

But in June 1987 his mum Julie and dad Derek were going through one of the most traumatic times of their lives.

Tiny Jonathan's well-being lay in the hands of paediatric specialist sister Lesley Johnson and Dr Ian Swann. They cared for him through the first crucial hours before he was well enough to be rushed to Liverpool.

And they again were on hand at the hospital when Jonathan went along to say his own thanks and to given them his birthday money.

Mum Julie said: "Being ten is a special birthday and he is only here because of what they did in special baby care.

"Over the years Jonathan and his older brother Matthew have helped us raise a lot of money for the unit, it must be around £6,500 by now."

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