A premature baby twin who was lucky to have survived birth, is now in a desperate bid for specialist treatment after being diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Toddler Aiden Thomas and his brother Owen were branded “little miracles” after being born ten weeks premature on New Years day last year.

But tiny Aiden is now in a second fight for his life after being diagnosed with cerebral palsy in March this year.

Grandmother Patricia Dowsett, 58, from Elm Park, now plans on holding a charity quiz later this month to help raise �60,000 for world-leading specialist treatment in America.

Aiden, who has Bilateral Spastic Hemiplegia, may never walk unless treated at the St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri.

Mum Victoria Thompson, 32, formerly of Romford and now living in Haverhill, Suffolk, said: “Aiden’s condition is severe enough that after 19 months he’s only just learnt to crawl, whereas Owen his twin is up and walking now.

“The treatment – Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy – would involve opening Aiden’s spine and testing the nerves that run down to the legs, finding the bad nerve and cutting it. There’s also 18 to 20 months intensive physio afterwards.

“The hospital has been doing this for 25 years with over 2,000 successful operations.”

The family has already raised just under �10,000 towards Aiden’s care and hope to register for the specialist treatment by the time he turns two.

Victoria added: “We were all shocked when the boys came as early as they did. It was frightening. But we are lucky that they survived and in the grand scheme of things are relatively healthy.

“Aiden is as bright as a button and we want him to be able to grow up with his twin brother and run around as normal children do.”

Nan Patricia has urged the community to open their hearts and purses at a curry quiz night at Fairkytes Art Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, on Friday August 27.

She added: “Please help Aiden to walk and lead a healthy normal life.”

To donate or buy tickets to the quiz night, visit: www.aidensfootsteps.co.uk