A four year-old from Llandudno Junction has already been through more than most people have in their entire lives.

Oliver Coxon was born with his intestines outside his body, later developing brain damage and cerebral palsy and almost died during an operation when he was just months old.

He spent the first ten months of his life in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, with his parents - Stewart and Suzanne - staying in the Ronald MacDonald House on-site, and big sister Autumn attending a nearby school.

Mr Coxon said: “That period was hell for us. It was the worst ten months of our entire lives.

“He’s been through more in that space of time than most people go through in a lifetime.

“It was very much touch and go whether he’d survive.

“He wasn’t breathing at first but once they got him on a ventilator his intestines and organs were wrapped in what was like a cellophane wrap and we were sent to Alder Hey.”

While there he had about ten operations and once he was able to breath by himself we spent three months in the baby unit where they also worked to put the intestines and organs back inside.

Oliver suffered a series of infections, which lead to further time in hospital.

During this stay he bled for three days and almost died forcing a blood transfusion. His bowel burst due to a mishap with a vac patch so he had to undergo another major operation, when they had to remove part of his bowel.

Mr Coxon said: “It was never ending and we really did think he was on his last legs.”

Having managed to overcome that ordeal, at nine months a CT scan showed that a quarter of Oliver’s brain was missing and he had cerebral palsy.

While Mr Coxon said it was devastating for the family they have begun to make some progress.

He’s now eating normally, goes to school at Ysgol Gogarth for a couple of hours every afternoon and sometimes stays overnight, which means Mr and Mrs Coxon can spend time with their daughter Autumn.

North Wales children’s charity Happy Faces has provided support over the past 18 months, with the latest donation - a specially adapted £700 car seat - enabling Stewart to take him on trips out.

Mr Coxon said: “The car seat is absolutely amazing. The charity has been a massive help to us and done so much, such as buying a floor seat, which has made a huge difference to Oliver’s life.”

The charity will be raising funds at a Ballroom Blitz dance evening, as part of the Colwyn Bay Forties Festival.

Ballroom Blitz will be held on Saturday April 21, at the Barn in Zip World Stadium in Eirias Park, features DJ Malcolm Murray, vintage singer Clara Bloom and the Ukulele Party Band with Reflections.

Colwyn BID project manager Anna Openshaw said: “We are expecting thousands of visitors to the Forties Festival.”