THIS LITTLE PIGGY

When her boy's fingers and toes started rotting away, Zoe Walne, 36, from Burnley, was horrified - but he's fighting back.

- LUCY BRYANT AND HANNAH CROCKER

My little boy Teddie giggled as I tickled him under the arms.

Bending down and blowing a raspberry on his belly, he squealed with joy.

'Do you like that?" I said, chuckling at him.

At just over a year old, he was such a little character.

My other children - Oliver, 17, Poppie, 15, and nine-year-old Noah-were all older, so it had been a while since my partner Duncan and I had gone through the baby stage.

But I loved every second.

Tickling the soles of Teddie's feet, I grabbed his big toe.

"This little piggy went to market...' I whispered, as he laughed. This little piggy stayed home..."

He loved it. His happy giggles were infectious.

One night, back in April this year, we were all sat watching Britain's Got Talent.

We'd let Teddie stay up past his bedtime-he ran around the living room, eating popcorn and laughing.

He loved the dancing dog.

By the time I put Teddie to bed, he was exhausted.

But that night at 3am, I heard him stirring. When I went into his bedroom, I realised he'd been sick.

You poor thing,' I whispered, picking him up and giving him a cuddle.

When we woke the next morning, Teddie was lethargic.

Maybe he's coming down with a cold, I thought, giving him some Calpol.

Then I noticed a little mark on his forehead.

It's probably just a heat rash, I thought, making a mental note to keep an eye on it.

That afternoon, Duncan, Noah, Teddie and I were heading to my parents' house.

Duncan was going to watch the footie with the blokes, and my mum Christine, 59, and I planned to take Teddie and Noah to feed the ducks.

When we got there though, I showed her Teddie's rash.

'What do you think?' I said.

'Is it anywhere else?' she asked.

Pulling up his top, I gasped when I saw the faint rash across his chest.

That hadn't been there even 15 minutes earlier.