THE MOTHER of little Bradley Pike, who battled for his life after premature birth, has laid bear the emotions she felt during 15 agonising weeks of hospital visits. In a new book, Bradley s Journey Home, created from diary entries of those first few mont

THE MOTHER of little Bradley Pike, who battled for his life after premature birth, has laid bear the emotions she felt during 15 agonising weeks of hospital visits.

In a new book, Bradley's Journey Home, created from diary entries of those first few months, Donna Pike details an astonishing fight for survival

Born 13 weeks premature and weighing just 2lbs Donna's tiny son was struck by a multitude of deadly conditions.

He suffered a grade three bleed on his brain, hydrocephalus - the abnormal accumulation of fluid on the brain, chronic lung disease, chest infections, meningitis, a broken septum and septicaemia - an infection of the blood.

Little Bradley was desperately ill and for the first three weeks Donna, 28, of Lansbury Avenue, Chadwell Heath, could not even hold her newborn baby.

She said: "At times it seemed like there was no hope. I would spend hours at the hospital and then go home and just cry.

"One of the nurses suggested writing everything down in a diary.

"She said it really helped other people who had been through similar situations.

"It will also be helpful for when Bradley is older and we can explain everything that happened to him."

The decision to publish her journal of Bradley's progress came last year as Donna wanted to give hope to parents suffering similar ordeals.

She said: "This is something I have wanted to do since Bradley came home from hospital. Most of the books on coping with things like this are written by professionals.

"I wanted to write something with real feeling, because I've been there and know what parents are going through."

Bradley, who suffers mild cerebral palsy, finally came home in October 2005, still on oxygen.

"I held him all the time, even while he was sleeping", Donna said. "I just couldn't believe he was finally at home."

Bradley is now a part-time model, loves school and paints beautiful pictures for his mum - which take pride of place on the fridge.

Donna's book Bradley's Journey Home is available from Waterstones, WHSmith and online at www.amazon.com for �11.99