AN 11-month-old girl who was born with a rare protein disorder needs vital medical equipment to help save her life.

Ivy Reed, of Darwen, was admitted to the intensive care unit at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital at just two weeks old after parents Philippa, 39, and Carl Reed, 41, noticed there was something wrong with their only child.

Mr Reed said: “We knew something wasn’t right as she was extra sleepy and lethargic, so we rushed her to hospital and they started doing tests on her there and then.”

Ivy was diagnosed with propionic acidemia, a rare genetic metabolic disorder which results in the body not being able to break down proteins in food.

Mr Reed, who owns Hype Hair in Bolton Road, Darwen, added: “It’s a rare disease and symptoms vary from one child to the next, but we were told that even though it’s manageable, she’ll never be cured.

“If her body has too much protein it can go into crisis and she can have an attack which results in high amounts of ammonia in her blood.

“If there’s too much ammonia it can lead to swelling on the brain which attacks her nervous system.”

Ivy has rarely gone longer than a few weeks without having an attack and has been constantly in and out of the Royal Manchester.

On December 22 she had a severe reaction to an unknown bug and had to be admitted to intensive care once again.

While she was there she suffered seizures and stopped breathing twice, having to be resuscitated both times before being put in an induced coma and ventilated.

Mr Reed said: “At first, doctors thought she had a bleed on the brain or meningitis, but luckily it wasn’t, although they’ve said there’s a 60 percent chance she could be left with a physical or mental disability.

“She’s now awaiting surgery to have a device fitted in her chest to help access to administer drugs and fluids more easily.”

After spending her first Christmas in hospital, Ivy’s parents are desperately trying to raise enough money to buy vital equipment they can keep at home so they don’t need to keep taking her to hospital every time she has an attack.

The cost of the equipment is over £2,000, and after setting up a Just Giving page, the family have already passed the halfway mark.

Mr Reed said: “Ivy came home from hospital on January 3 and we are now trying to fund a defibrillator and respiratory monitor and extra sensors to help keep her monitored during nights, as now she has had this severe reaction to a virus this could happen again.

“On the night we rushed her to hospital in December, Philippa had woken up and had gone to check on her and that’s when we found she wasn’t breathing properly.

“Ivy could have died had Philippa not woken up, and having this equipment at home will help ensure we can monitor whether she is still breathing or not.

“Ivy spent her first Christmas and New Year in hospital, but we are hoping after the operation and providing we can get this life-saving equipment we will be able to make up for this.”

Ivy, who her parents describe as a ‘happy, smiley little girl’, has to be fed every three hours by a stomach tube and is on seven different types of medication a day, which she will need for the rest of her life.

And the fact she has to be careful to avoid catching bugs means Philippa and Carl, can’t go on holiday or take long walks like other families can.

Mr Reed said: “It’s been quite traumatic. We can’t go out anywhere as a family as we can’t feed her just anywhere and can’t risk her catching bugs.”

“So many local businesses have offered to help, and we’ve had so many messages from people, it’s been overwhelming,” said Mr Reed.

“We are thinking of having a party for her first birthday on January 23, to let people who have helped raise money come and meet Ivy.

“She has made us so proud with her strength and courage even though she has had the toughest first year, and we just want to help keep our little princess healthy and safe.

“We don’t know what the future will hold for Ivy, so at the moment, we are just taking each day as it comes.”