AN Okehampton couple have paid tribute to the staff and charitable organisation that helped care for their four-month old son, who died last October.

Rick and Rebbecca May gave birth to son Dominic on June 16 2010. Born with Down's Syndrome and a congenital heart defect, Dominic suffered with breathing difficulties shortly after birth. Following a two-week stay at the Neonatal Unit in Exeter, he was transferred to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Rebbecca said: 'On arrival he was admitted by a nurse called Lottie, who Dominic and ourselves got to know and love so much. But it wasn't just Lottie, he had an amazing team of nurses, doctor and consultants.

'His main on-call consultant was David Grant, who fought so hard to try and make him well enough for us to bring him home.'

After an operation on his heart, Dominic suffered with fluid retention, and was eventually diagnosed with Lymphatic Dysfunction, a condition which meant his body could not drain itself of lymph fluid, a key part of the body's immune system.

Dominic initially responded to drug treatment, but his condition worsened and doctors turned off his ventilator on October 20. During their time in Bristol with Dominic, the couple stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Bristol, a charity which provides families of seriously ill children with a home away from home so they can stay near their children.

Rebbecca said: 'Dominic gave us the best four months he could have given us and we spent every day and every evening with him.

'We do have some bad memories like when he was poorly, but the doctors, nurses and consultants helped us through our ups and downs as they were there for us as well as Dominic, and they looked after us all.

'We can't thank the team enough for all they did for Dominic, for Rick and myself, they helped us through everything.

'And if it wasn't for the charity Ronald McDonald House, we would never have been able to afford to stay in Bristol and it would have been an even more difficult time, but because of the house we didn't have to pay rent or bills, we just had to pay for food and anything else we needed.'

To find out how to raise money for Ronald McDonald House please visit http://www.rmhc.org.uk">www.rmhc.org.uk

To find out how to raise money for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, visit http://www.grandappeal.org.uk">www.grandappeal.org.uk