FREYA Essex was rushed to special care within hours of being born.

She spent 11 days in Colchester General Hospital’s baby care unit after fluid failed to clear from her lungs after birth.

Her mum Rhianna wants to thank the staff who saved her life and enabled her to grow into the happy, healthy twoyear- old she is today.

Rhianna, 31, is hosting a nearly-new sale with all money raised going to the hospital’s special care baby unit.

Staff at the unit, which has one intensive care cot, four high-dependency cot and 12 special care cots, aresaving to buy reclining chairs and updating medical equipment.

Rhianna, of Ipswich Road, Colchester, said: “We will be forever grateful for the care and support the hospital's staff showed to us.

“We want to raise money for the special care baby unit to ensure more families can receive the vital care as Freya.

“The unit relies on fundraising and donations to buy vital equipment that their funding doesn’t always stretch to.”

Rhianna said: “Hopefully the sale will also be a chance for people to make bags of money from bags of old baby and kids clothes, toys and books.

“If, like us, you have a loft full of things that you would like to sell, then you can have a stall at the sale for just £15.

“And you get to keep all of your own profits from your sales.

“I hope people will pop down to grab a bargain.

There will also be a selection of stalls from local businesses selling lots of very pretty, yummy, handcrafted things.”

Karen Moss, senior sister at the baby unit, said: “The team here remembers the Essex family very well and we’re thrilled to hear Freya is a typically mischievous two-year-old girl.

“They were so grateful for the help we gave their little girl that Mr Essex wrote individually to many of the team and also to the trust’s chief executive to thank us.

“We would like to thank them for choosing to raise funds for the unit.”

The sale, on Saturday April 25 at Thomas Lord Audley in Monkwick Avenue from 9.30am to 1pm, will include a raffle with prizes including the chance to win a short break with Park Resorts Holidays.

Entrance is £1, children are free. To reserve a stall or for more information email rhianna.essex33 @gmail.com