A BRAVE little boy battling a mystery illness has been nominated for a Pride of South Tyneside Award.
Charlie Cookson has spent much of his short life in hospital and only recently returned home after 82 days at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The 22-month-old lives with his parents, Sarah and Chris, in Simonside, South Shields.
Godmother Aysha Henderson has nominated him for a Child of Courage award, for the way he keeps defying the odds.
She said: “Charlie is such a strong, beautiful and inspirational little boy.
“Despite everything that goes on around him, he still manages to give a cheeky little smile and a laugh that lights up the room.
“He enjoys being around his loving family and friends.”
Charlie has been ill since birth with a number of underlying conditions, some of which are yet to have an official diagnosis.
He has overcome a number of serious illnesses, including meningitis and septicaemia, and undergone several operations, including two hernia repairs and a brain biopsy.
He also suffers from epileptic seizures on a daily basis, but the sensory equipment installed at his home helps to calm him down.
Miss Henderson added: “Charlie has had a huge amount of illnesses, which some adults never see in their lifetime.
“He continues to face an everyday battle until an official diagnosis is found.
“Charlie is one of the bravest little boys I know and truly is a Child of Courage.”
Mrs Cookson, 37, said after bringing Charlie home, being able to give him a trophy would be “the icing on the cake”.
She added: “We think he deserves a medal every day for what he goes through and the pain he must have, yet he still breaks the smiles through.
“It just melts your heart, and for people to recognise how much he’s been through is amazing.”
Twitter: @ShieldsGazEdu
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