It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.
And for Emma and Martin Stead, of Huddersfield, the fact that their baby Joshua was vomiting horrendously for six solid days was a terrifying reality.
The couple took their baby to the doctor’s surgery and then in despair, rushed him to hospital.
It transpired he had a rare condition which affected his stomach and intestine, and he had to undergo surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.
Happily, young Joshua made a full recovery and a year on from that traumatic time, his parents plan a fundraising day to help the hospital unit which saved him.
Their Shopping Event takes place on Saturday, May 9, between 2pm and 4pm at the Top Club in Sheepridge, when a variety of craftsmen and traders will be selling items ranging from perfumes and make-up to clothing and candles.
Emma, 33, and Martin, 3, live in Couford Grove, Bradley, with Josh and his older brother Alex, 4.
Joshua was born at Calderdale Royal Hospital on March 31 last year and weighed in at a healthy 8lb 2oz.
Emma said: “The birth went fine and he seemed very healthy, but when he was just three weeks old he started being sick and it got worse.
“He was vomiting all the time, often projectile vomiting, and every bit of milk he had came up.
“We took him to the doctor who said it was probably reflux but as it continued and got worse, we took him to A&E.
“They told us we were worried over nothing and he would be okay, but I’m afraid we dug our heels in and insisted he see a specialist.
“I had been looking on the internet and found something called pyloric spenosis, which affects a muscle between the stomach and the intestine.
“Joshua was admitted to the children’s ward and eventually a specialist did blood tests and within an hour told us that was the problem.
“He had to go for surgery but because he was so dehydrated, he had to be on a feeding tube and a drip for 48 hours.
“The operation went very well at Leeds and that’s where we found out about Eckersley House. It’s almost like a hotel, next to the hospital, and is perfect for families who need to stay there to be near their children.
“They could not do enough for us and now we want to do something for them”.
Funds raised from the shopping day will help meet the costs of running Eckersley Hosue, maintained by the Sick Childrens Trust.
