A Preston dad is fundraising so that his nine-month-old son can get the pulse oximeter he desperately needs.

John Ashley Watson, from Fishwick, is raising money for his son, Matthew Watson, who was diagnosed with chronic lung disease at just four-months-old.

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Matthew, who was born ten weeks prematurely, had an eight-week neonatal stay at Royal Preston Hospital before being transferred to Manchester’s Children Neonatal ward for an operation.

After finally taking him home from hospital, Matthew was then taken back to hospital at four-months-old with bronchitis, later being diagnosed with chronic lung disease.

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Now Matthew’s parents, John Watson and Jasmine Lovatt, and siblings Bethany and Thomas Watson, are hoping to raise money for an pulse oximeter to measure his oxygen levels, as the NHS wont fund him one to use at home.

9-month-old Matthew needs a pulse oximeter

John Ashley Watson, 26, said: “The NHS don’t think he should have a monitor at home to keep an eye on his oxygen levels.

“We just have to go off signs which aren’t always there so I’m trying to raise funds to buy the pulse oximeter which catches early signs of low oxygen.”

John has set up a fundraising page where people can donate to Matthew’s cause.

John hopes to raise a total of £1,000 in order to fund the pulse oximeter.

You can help donate to the cause and read Matthew’s story on the Go Fund Me fundraising page.

Have you visited Royal Preston Hospital recently? Have you been involved in any fundraising recently? Let us know in the comments below