AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy who is in hospital in a life-threatening condition needs your help so that he can have a special Christmas at home with his family.

Owen Holmes, from Weymouth, is currently in Southampton General Hospital’s intensive care unit after sinusitis developed in to a rare infection, which caused him to have a stroke.

The infection put pressure on his brain and the stroke has since affected the left-side of his body, as well as causing him to have seizures.

Owen’s devastated family – mum Tania, stepdad Richard and siblings Lily Holmes, 14, Jamie Shorten, nine, William Shorten, 14 months, and Olly Shorten, two months, – are currently staying in Southampton to be close to him, but are hoping to give him a special Christmas at home in Weymouth.

Tania said: "I really want to raise awareness of how damaging sinusitis can be. I don't want anyone else to go through this. He still has a lot of infection in his body but we want to get him home for Christmas with his family."

Owen’s aunt, Chloe Chamberlain, 18, has set up a JustGiving page to help her family.

She said: “We’re a big family. We’re hoping this will help them through this really difficult time. There are no words for this really – it’s a horrible, horrible time.

“We’re hoping to help as much as possible, especially with it coming up to Christmas.

"We all get together at Christmas time and I just hope it isn’t in Southampton this year.

"Owen’s parents can’t work at the moment because they want to be with him, but they want to give him a good Christmas.

“For Owen’s brother, Olly, this is his first Christmas. We really want to get Owen home for Christmas.”

Owen was first taken to see his GP earlier this month when he was told he had sinusitis – a common condition which causes the lining of the sinuses to become inflamed.

Chloe said: “We didn’t think any more of it. Then, a week later, he was taken to the walk-in centre in the early hours of the morning. Doctors put him to sleep while an ambulance took him straight to Southampton, where he had an operation on his brain.

“He was on life-support and now he’s in intensive care. The infection caused him to have a stroke. They still think it was sinusitis, but doctors said one in every 10,000 people feel the effects on their brain. It’s very rare.

“We would like to provide them with the financial support to deliver Owen the best Christmas after everything he is going through.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/owed-lee-holmes Cheques can be made payable to Miss C A Chamberlain and sent to Dorset Echo, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Dorset, DT4 9XD