'Dream' hols after fight against odds; FAMILY: Break for couple who tied knot over fears sick tot would not survive.

Byline: By Justine Halifax

A COUPLE who tied the knot in Birmingham Children's Hospital for fear their daughter would not survive are preparing to take the toddler on her first family holiday.

Bethany Dawson is just 14 months old, but has spent most of her life in intensive care and has endured 15 operations after ultrasound scans revealed she was suffering from gastroschisis before she was born.

When she was still in the womb Bethany developed a hole in her abdominal wall and her bowel grew outside her body.

Even after extensive surgery, Bethany still has to be fed through a drip 16 hours a day just to keep her alive and each day the family lives with the fear that a bad infection could take her life.

Her 21-year-old mother Nichola, of Rumer Hill, Cannock, is now praying for the phone to ring with news that a liver and bowel transplant donor has become available.

As Bethany's condition means she cannot travel more than an hour from Birmingham Children's Hospital, or without her drip and drugs, a family break has been impossible.

Nichola and 29-year-old lorry driver husband Tim have also not yet had a honeymoon after marrying in the children's hospital chapel last month.

But now the couple, who also have a two-year-old daughter, Catelyn, are looking forward to a double celebration after the children's charity Promise Dreams agreed to pay for a holiday to Hoseasons in Derbyshire.

Full-time mum Nichola said: "When Bethany was born I couldn't even cuddle her. She was whisked off to intensive care and just hours later she was having her first operation.

She stayed in hospital until January this year, and even then has spent half of the time back in hospital.

"When we were told Bethany wouldn't survive without a transplant we made a list of things we wanted to achieve. One was to get married and become a proper family so we tied the knot at hospital and Bethany was able to join us.

"Bethany's a fighter and despite all she's been through she's a happy child. This will be our very first holiday together - it really will be a dream come true.

"Our next milestone will be Christmas. The best present would be for Bethany to get the transplant she needs and to live a fairly normal life."

A Promise Dreams spokeswoman said: "Promise Dreams helps make dreams come true for seriously and terminally ill children, so we are supporting this dream for Bethany along with many other dreams for families that apply to us each month.

"Each of these stories is poignant in its own way, and we hope that through sharing this one with people they will see that they really do have the power to make a difference."

Nichola was close to the family of Ubaid Ali, of Acocks Green, who also needed a bowel and liver transplant but died earlier this month aged just 15 months after a donor search failed.

For information on Promise Dreams visit www.promisedreams.co.uk or to join the transplant register visit www.uktransplant.org.uk or call 0845 60 60 400.

CAPTION(S):

WE'LL HAVE A BALL.... Bethany Dawson and her mum Nichola. Picture: Tim Easthope Photo ref.: TE221008BABY-04.; TRAGIC... Zulfiquar and Ubaid Ali.