A STALYBRIDGE mum has thanked the ‘heroes’ who keep her son alive.

Rebecca Hall’s three-year-old son, Tyler, suffers with a genetic blood disorder called spherocytosis, which results in abnormally-shaped red blood cells.

As a premature baby Tyler needed blood transfusions every two weeks. He now has to have a blood test every six weeks and a blood transfusion roughly every six months at Tameside Hospital.

"He’s been going since he was born and he’s fine with it - he loves the attention! He thinks all the toys at the hospital are his and he knows all the nurses," said Rebecca, a student nurse, who had Tyler when she was 16 and taking GCSEs.  "It’s like a drip - they do it over a four-hour period so we usually end up staying over. If he’s been to hospital, when he goes to nursery the next day he’ll tell them all ‘I’ve been to hospital!’"

This week, Rebecca, 19, helped launch the National Blood Service’s summer campaign to keep blood stocks up as people jet off on holidays.

She said: "If it wasn’t for the amazing generosity of blood donors my beautiful baby boy would not be alive today. I’d give a big thank you to people who give blood - they’re all heroes. If it’s not Tyler getting their blood it’s someone else so they’re all heroes. Me and my mum both tried to give blood, we couldn’t because of our iron levels but most of my family donate. I’d say to people who have never donated to go and try it. You never know, it might be you or a member of your family who needs the blood in the future.

Anyone aged 17 - 66, weighing over 7st 12lbs (50 kg) and in general good health could become a blood donor.

The next donation session in Tameside will take place at Ashton Sixth Form College on Darnton Road on 13 August from 1.30pm-3.30pm and 5.30pm-7.30pm. For more information on becoming a donor call 0845 7 711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk.