A SWINDON mum will be getting the best possible Christmas present tomorrow her first chance to spend it at home with her dying son.

Kristy Lee's two-year-old son Ben has only ever spent five weeks out of hospital because of heart and lung defects that mean he only has a few more years to live.

But with Kristy's persistence and a little help from the Evening Advertiser Ben has been allowed home for his first Christmas with his family.

Ben, who was born with unusually small arteries that do not supply enough blood to his lungs, had to be rushed into hospital on Christmas Eve last year after he suddenly stopped breathing.

He also spent his first two birthdays in hospital, so the sight of him unwrapping presents at home in Bosham Close, Toothill, tomorrow is long overdue for Kristy, 20, and her partner, Barry Waldron, 29.

Ben is constantly attached to an oxygen tank and has to take three different heart drugs each day. But his mum, who has a slight learning disability, has always insisted she is able to look after him at home.

In October, she told the Evening Advertiser she was angry at how long it was taking Swindon Council's social services department to discharge Ben from hospital.

"I want him to be home for Christmas," she said at the time.

"I want to get him home because he only has a few more years to live."

Social workers for the council took up the challenge, organising a special training course to prepare Kristy for having Ben at home.

She passed the course, as well as inspections from carers to see how she coped with looking after her son.

Ben is now safely settled in at home, watching Bob the Builder videos and playing with toys like any normal two-year-old.

His mum said finally having him home was a huge relief, and added: "I'm a lot happier now, not moody like I was when he was in the hospital."

More importantly, Ben is responding very well to his new surroundings, and has already cut down the amount of oxygen and medication he needs every day.

He is starting to eat solid food after two years being fed through a tube, and is catching up on many of the basic skills his illness left him unable to master before.

"I reckon the change has helped a lot," said Kristy.

"He's getting stronger. If he starts eating proper food, he will live a lot longer."

Ben is due to start walking lessons with a special frame after Christmas. In the New Year, he will spend a day at both the Koalas playgroup for children with special needs and a family project based at the Link Centre.

"It's a lot better being away from the hospital," said Kristy.

"I may be stupid in some ways, but when it comes to looking after my own son, I'm not. Everyone knows I'm looking after him well."

Kristy also reckons the Evening Advertiser's intervention was crucial in helping persuade the authorities that Ben could come home. Council spokeswoman Sarah Deacon said social workers were delighted Kristy and Ben were doing so well.

"We are all working together to keep Ben at home it's a team effort," Mrs Deacon said.

Hospital spokesman, Chris Birdsall, said Ben's former carers were also delighted that his Christmas story had a happy ending.

"Obviously, home is the best place for everybody to be at this time, and I'm sure that it will mean a great deal to his mum to have him there," he said.

"We hope Ben thoroughly enjoys himself, and that Santa brings him everything he asks for."