The mum of a seriously ill boy has described the heart-rending moment she had to perform CPR to save his life.

Paramedics were called to Newenden Close in Stanhope in Ashford just five days before Christmas after nine-year-old Cody Steward suffered problems with his lungs.

He was rushed to hospital and has since remained in intensive care, missing the festive period and his ninth birthday with his brothers and sister because he was so poorly.

His mum Leanne has had to stay with him in London to look after him.

She said: “Cody has been fighting for his whole life. My children saw me doing the CPR on the day, and then the paramedics came and worked on him.

“He has muscular dystrophy, which has caused problems for his lungs, so he has suffered with emphysema and bronchitis, he has only been home for about four days since October, and then he had a mucus block.”

Mrs Steward, 32, a mum-of-five, said Cody was first diagnosed when he was one month old, and she was told he probably wouldn’t survive beyond his first birthday.

When he was a toddler he started to suffer problems with his lungs, which has resulted in regular trips to the Brompton Hospital in London.

She said: “We are a close, tight-knit and united family and we have had to be to deal with this. Our children are aware that Cody is poorly.

“When he is in hospital it livens up Cody’s spirits to see his family on Face Time.

“It has been hard on us, but it has made us closer.”

The condition is hereditary in Cody’s genes, but as far as Mrs Steward is aware, he is the first in the family to be affected.

It means that both she and her husband Fred, 32, have to spend long periods of time with Cody in hospital where he is looked after while the other stays with their other children at home.

Now the family are hosting a special evening to raise money and awareness for the Brompton Hospital, which looks after babies and children with life-threatening heart and lung conditions.

Mrs and Mrs Steward will be supporting a charity effort to raise funds for the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, where Cody is being looked after.

"Cody has been fighting for his whole life" - Leanne Steward

Mrs Steward said: “They have done a lot for Cody, including getting him a machine to help him with coughing, a physio machine, as well as a ventilator mask to help him breathe.

“We want to give something back, because if it was not for them, my family and many other children would not be here now.

“They provide support and a place to stay so I can be with Cody, otherwise I would be stuck many miles away.

"They also provided Christmas and birthday presents for the children.

“I know what we raise is not much, but we want to give something back to show we appreciate what they have done and continue to do.”

The event will be held at the Alfred Arms at Newtown on Saturday, March 10 from 6pm.

It will include a raffle with prizes including BMW hire for the weekend courtesy of Broad Oak BMW, a meal for two at the Everest Inn, Entry for two to Port Lympne zoo, and a makeup makeover with Gemma Morpurgo.

• For more information about the charity search for Brompton Awareness on Facebook or visit www.thebromptonfountain.org.uk