“THEY saved his life.”

And now a Fordingbridge family is taking part in the Stars Appeal’s Walk for Wards in a bid to thank staff at Salisbury Hospital who saved baby Taylor, who became ill at the age of just two weeks.

Shelley and Chris Perkins’ son was brought into Salisbury District Hospital in October 2022 after he suddenly became very ill.

When he arrived on the children’s ward, his condition worsened and the situation became critical as doctors had to resuscitate the baby, who was later found to have a heart defect that was restricting the blood flow.

“It was terrifying,” said mum Shelley. “Within five or 10 minutes there were over a dozen people working on him. They saved his life.”

Baby Taylor, who is now seven-months-old, had to go to Southampton for surgery but has since been admitted to the Sarum Ward at Salisbury Hospital several times when he was ill over winter and visits regularly for help with his feeding tube.

Shelley praised the “amazing” Salisbury Hospital staff who treated Taylor and continue to care for him and says that “each time we have been looked after so well and are so grateful to everyone on the ward”.

Donations to the Stars Appeal fund enhancements to the furnishings, décor and artwork on the Sarum Ward along with multi-sensory toys and other play equipment, as well as diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation equipment.

The charity also provides free accommodation for families, including a dedicated parents’ flat and pull-down beds, so parents can stay by their child’s bedside in hospital.

“When we were there I was able to stay with him in the beds provided by the Stars Appeal,” Shelley added. “I don’t know what I would have done without that.”

Taylor is doing well but will have to have more operations in the future.

Taylor is now doing well

And Shelley said the efforts of staff to save their son were reason enough to take on the Walk for Wards, which takes place on July 9 at Wilton House.

“If they hadn’t have done what they did we wouldn’t be in the position to have Taylor with us anymore,” she said.

“We wanted to be able to do something to help other people that might be in our situation.”

To donate go to their JustGiving page visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shelley-perkins1, and to sign up for Walk for Wards, visit starsappeal.org/event/walk-for-wards.