KIND-hearted members of the community are rallying behind a Kidderminster couple whose baby daughter spent six months in hospital after she "stopped breathing".
Dad Alex Cookson, aged 29, had to give lifesaving CPR to his daughter Evie back in April shortly after she was born.
Mr Cookson and his fiancée Jasmine Bayliss, aged 28, were once told that Evie "wasn't going to make it through the night".
After spending half a year in Birmingham Children's Hospital, Evie is now back at the family home in Spennells. There's yet to be an official diagnosis for Evie and her condition remains a "mystery."
Mr Cookson said: "Bringing Evie home after 6 exactly 6 months in hospital was such a surreal moment after once being told she wasn't going to make it through the night.
"We simply cannot thank Birmingham Children's Hospital enough for the level of care and attention they provided us throughout our journey.
"Those first few days back at home were something we will never forget.
"She still has a long way to go and still needs a high level of medical care at home but the important thing is she is home.
"For 12 hours per day, we get to be a normal family and do normal things. Over time, hopefully that 12 hours will increase and eventually become 24 hours.
"We cannot explain the emotions we have been through but every little bit of it is now worth it to see Evie thriving at home, rolling around, shouting at us, smiling at us and playing with Esmae her big sister".
Mr Cookson, an engineer for Sky, had hoped to renovate the kitchen during his paternity leave for his family, but these plans were scrapped following the emergency.
Now, plumbers, electricians, painters and plasterers have come together to help with the refurb in a DIY SOS-style.
The effort was organised by Kidderminster's Amazing Feet Running Club, of which Mr Cookson is a member.
Nicki Fisher, the treasurer of the running club, who runs a flooring company, said that when Evie went into hospital "everybody in the club was very shocked and upset".
She added: "We've got quite a few tradespeople in the club. We look out for each other. Everybody's absolutely amazing".
Mr Cookson said he is overwhelmed by the support he's received and has thanked A&N Flooring, TWS windows and doors, Norgrove Building Supplies, Howdens, builder Elliot Blount and carpenter Stuart Smith, BH Painting and Plastering, M&L Electronics, builder Ade Wills and plumber Andrew Broome.
Back in July, Amazing Feet Running Club raised more than £4,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital during a 24-hour run.
He added: "Me and Jas have cried so much since the works have begun.
"How people can be so kind and give so much at such hard times is amazing. We are truly so grateful.
"Everyone has refused any form of payment from us and we are getting offers of different things all the time.
"The kitchen has already grown legs and become a slightly bigger job than previously planned but everyone has just jumped at the problems with immediate solutions.
"They have been amazing and when it's finished it will be so nice to be a family at home for Christmas".
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