The mum of a baby born unable to swallow has been sharing her family’s story.

Harry Barber, two, was born with a rare condition which meant a pouch had formed at the top of his oesophagus.

Known as long gap oesophageal atresia, it stopped food from reaching his stomach.

Harry was rushed from Macclesfield Hospital to St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester where he underwent an operation to lift his stomach and connect it to the food pipe.

Without surgery, the pouch can fill up and overflow into a baby’s windpipe, entering the lungs and causing choking.

Harry’s mum Katy, 26, has been supported by charity Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support (TOFS) – set up to help families of children born with Harry’s condition.

Katy has organised charity events including a swimathon this summer and this month she took part in an awareness campaign for the charity.

She has been sharing her story via a Facebook page about Harry, with pictures of him when he was in hospital.

Katy, married to Dave, of Tarporley Walk, Colshaw Farm, said: “I was happy to share our story to raise awareness of the charity and condition.

“The charity has been a wonderful support since Harry was born.

“It was a rollercoaster, babies would normally take a first breath but Harry couldn’t breathe on his own and he couldn’t eat.

“I didn’t get to see him and he was rushed off.

“But Harry was a little fighter and came through the operation.

“He has regular medication, but he gets better and better. I’m so proud of him.”

It’s not known what causes the condition which affects one in 3,500 babies and can cause further difficulties with swallowing and digesting food.

Harry has just joined Carnival Pre-school and Nursery in Wilmslow .

Katy said: “It was strange handing him over to someone else but they have been great with his feeding. We have to be careful with what he eats, with nothing like bread, cheese and meat which is hard to chew, but really he’s like any other two year old.

“Harry is my little hero.”

Katy is planning more sponsored events to raise £10,000 for TOFS.

Visit tofs.org.co.uk and search Harry Barber on Facebook.