THE mother of a seriously ill toddler who urgently needs surgery to prevent him suffering permanent brain damage is “overwhelmed” by local people’s support for her family.

Gemma Tones’ 19-month-old son Oliver has an extremely rare brain condition, which she said was so complex and unusual that only two doctors in Europe are qualified to operate on it.

She and her husband Thomas are staying in London while Oliver is cared for at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Oliver, of Sutton-in-Craven, near Keighley was due to be operated on earlier this month, but this was delayed until Tuesday because he was not well enough to undergo the procedure.

Mrs Tones had previously gone online to appeal for information on any local jobs available, so she could earn some cash to pay for her and her husband to stay in London with their son.

But after leaving a message on the You Know You’ve Lived in Keighley When Facebook page, she was amazed and heartened to begin receiving offers of donations instead.

“I was just so overwhelmed, it was the last thing I was expecting,” she added. “I’d been quite happy to work as many hours as I needed to get the money. I’m really grateful to everyone who has donated.”

She now has a fundraising page at gofundme.com/funds-for-olivers-admission where people can continue to provide support.

She said her son was operated on in September of last year, but now needs additional vital treatment.

Mrs Tones is pregnant with her second child who is due in late July. She said Oliver’s illness is called Vein of Galen Malformation, adding that one in a million children are diagnosed with it.

She said most babies born with the condition do not survive for long as they suffer heart failure.

She explained: “It means Oliver has added pressure on his left side due to excess blood flow to a mass that is on his brain.

“He has come a long way over the last couple of months. He’s recently started walking and talking, whereas before his first operation last September he couldn’t even sit up let alone do anything else.

“I didn’t expect him to need to return to hospital anytime soon as I was told he was OK.

“But following an appointment with his neuro team at Great Ormond Street they told us there is still blood flow to this mass and if not operated on soon would leave him with permanent damage. Unfortunately this hospital can’t provide us with accommodation and we have to stay in a hotel, which costs £100 a night. After the operation Oliver will need to be looked after in a High Dependency Unit while he recovers, so we expect to have to be in London for another two or three weeks.”