A SOUTHWICK family are facing 2017 with renewed hope after learning their son will be able to take a 'wonder' drug to help his body cope with cystic fibrosis when he turns two later this month.

Mum Emma Foord, 30, has been campaigning for Kalydeco to be given to two-year-olds in England, after learning that her son William would have to wait years to get its benefits.

Her battle was featured in the Wiltshire Times last year – and now the family has been told the NHS has agreed the drug can be used to treat children like William from mid-January.

In Scotland the drug has been available for children aged over two for years, but in England it was only available for children once they had turned six.

Mrs Foord said: “We found out the news just before Christmas and it was the best present we could have asked for. We were absolutely over the moon.

“William turns two just as the drug becomes available so it’s also going to be the perfect birthday present for him.

“He obviously won’t understand why it’s such a good present just yet, but when he’s older he’ll know exactly why we’ve campaigned so hard for this and why we’re so delighted.”

When Kalydeco was first approved in America in 2012 it was labelled as “the most important new drug of the year” and a “wonder drug”.

One of its main benefits is that it improves the lung function of cystic fibrosis patients, which then boosts their hydration and mucus clearance and so allows them to lead a more normal life.

Mrs Foord and her husband Tom have already watched William go into the operating theatre on four occasions and fight for his life three times due to complications with his bowel, another aspect of the disease.

Kalydeco should ease the youngster's problems and, most importantly, increase his life expectancy.

“We sent a text to our relatives and everyone was so delighted, it's a massive weight off everyone’s shoulders” added Mrs Foord, who works as a nurse at the RUH in Bath.

“We’ve worked so hard to get to this stage but we were beginning to give up hope.

“We know we’re not completely out of the woods yet but it’s a huge step in the right direction and we can’t wait for William to start taking the drug.”