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Hospital appeal to help sleep fear baby
Emma Dunlop FOR the whole of Lucas Hibbard's life he has had to be watched constantly as he sleeps – in case he dies.
When he was just a baby the tot, who is now two-years-old, developed the dangerous condition sleep apnoea, where he is at risk of suffocating in his sleep because his airways are not developed properly.
His parents Joanne and John, of Heysham Green, Barnsley, take it in turns to keep a constant vigil beside him as he sleeps.
Now staff at Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity is asking people across the region this Christmas to help raise 30,000 for a polysomnology system which would make a huge difference to the sleep laboratory and benefit many other patients.
Dr Rob Primhack, Consultant in Respiratory Paediatrics, at the hospital said: "It is difficult to comprehend that something as natural as trying to get a good night's sleep could be fatal to some children – yet it can."
Sheffield Children's NHS Trust is one of the leading centres for helping children with sleep problems.
Little Lucas is one of the youngsters who will benefit from the new equipment.
Mrs Hibbard said: "His fits were extremely frightening sometimes he went rigid, other times floppy we just didn't know what to expect."
It is hoped that Lucas will grow out of his condition in time.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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