My name is Sarah Soloniewicz, I'm 31 years old and I live with my boyfriend Pete Fyans who's 30 and my beautiful daughter Ruby who's 3. 

Pete, Ruby and I were lucky enough to welcome a healthy beautiful and perfect baby into the world on 21st December 2014. We named him Freddie, he was the best Christmas present we could have received. 

On Christmas Day when Freddie was 4 days old he became severely ill with a virus he had picked up within his first days of life. 

Freddie was initially treated at the local hospital but as he started to deteriote the decision was made by the doctors for Freddie to be transferred on Christmas Day night to Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool. Freddie became so ill so fast and his condition continued to deteriorate rapidly. On Boxing Day Freddie was placed on an ECMO machine his only chance of getting better. But Freddie continued to worsen. 

As the days passed the doctors, nurses and specialists worked tirelessly to save our little boy. Freddie had all the care we could have hoped for him to have. The medical team who supported him are truly remarkable people.

On New Years Eve, Pete and I were told that Freddie had suffered  severe damage to his brain and major organs caused directly by the virus  and that he would not survive. Due to Freddie being less than a week old when he became ill he had not built up any immunity to infection and his little body was too small and weak to fight the awful virus that had made him so severely ill. Freddie's brain was so badly damaged by infection that he could not even breath for himself, Freddie was now unable to do anything and even on the life support machinery Freddie's condition continued to deteriorate. 

We had to make the most heartbreaking and earth shattering decision of our lives and agreed for Freddie's medical support to be withdrawn. We spent New Years Eve as we had every night since Christmas day, at Freddie's bedside. We sat with Freddie as the New Year began, knowing that he would not live to see a New Year, that Freddie would die without ever waking up. We were truly heartbroken we could not save our son, we could not offer him the life he deserved. 

On New Years day Pete and I held Freddie in our arms for the first time since Christmas Day morning. We told him how much we loved him, we were able to kiss him for the first time in a week and feel the warmth from his tiny hands as we held them in ours. We knew we had been so lucky to be blessed with our son but we were heartbroken knowing we were losing him. We supported him through his final moments of life, hoping that by some miracle Freddie would amaze us all, wake up, begin to cry and live. But Freddie died in our arms at 12:54pm on New Years day without ever waking up. The Ray of light that Freddie brought with him into the world vanished with his last heartbeat. Our baby was gone, but we took comfort knowing he was now at peace, no longer suffering. He was only 11 days old. 

We are desperately sad that our son Freddie died and that his life could not be saved but we are so thankful to everyone at Alder Hey who cared for him, treated him and tried so hard to save his life.

In Freddie's memory we are raising money for Alder Hey Children's Charity so that the hospital can continue to care for, support and save the lives of other babies and children who become severely ill like Freddie. Hospitals like these are vital and without these specialist hospitals Freddie would not have survived long enough for any treatment to be given to try and save him. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.