A TODDLER who fought back from the brink of death after being put into a coma due to severe pneumonia is enjoying the new year with his parents.

Two-year-old Sam Hall spent 10 days on life support and needed a total blood transfusion to stop his organs from failing.

Parents Louisa and Keith Hall feared their son would not survive the critical illness and septic shock that ravaged his body six months ago.

The Kings Tamerton couple said they are "blessed" their son survived the terrifying ordeal with no lasting effects.

They have launched a £10,000 appeal for a charity which provides free accommodation for families of sick youngsters at Bristol Children's Hospital – which supported them during Sam's illness. They have already raised almost £7,000.

Louisa, aged 35, said: "We are so grateful to have Sam home after we were so close to losing him.

"At the time we couldn't see beyond it, but he is coming on in leaps and bounds. We are just so relieved he's fully recovered."

Keith, 42, said Sam is a "brilliant" two-and-a-half-year-old child, "running riot and finding his personality".

The proud dad said: "Turn back six months and we didn't know if he was going to be here at all.

"It could have been so very different and we are blessed.

"Every day we look at him and think 'Thank God'. Every day is amazing."

The toddler spent the festive season in Plymouth with his parents, grandparents and 10-year-old sister Molly, described as being a "tower of strength" throughout the year.

Sam had been rushed to Derriford Hospital in May, where A&E doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and septicaemia.

He had previously displayed mild flu-like symptoms but took a sudden turn for the worse. Within 10 hours he was fighting for his life on a ventilator in an induced coma. That night a retrieval team from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children took Sam and his parents to its specialist intensive care unit.

After two weeks of treatment, Sam was discharged. Doctors gave him the all clear following weeks of recovery and building up his strength.

Sam has returned to hospital recently. He fractured a bone in his right leg a few weeks ago after falling over in the front room and had the plaster removed two days before Christmas.

The Halls said the care their son received has been "fantastic" and they praised staff at Ronald McDonald House where they stayed during his illness.

Their fundraising appeal to support the charity has included gala nights at various Plymouth social clubs, sponsored leg and body waxes, and marathon runs.

The couple hope to achieve their £10,000 target by July 2011 – with Louisa planning to take part in a summer parachute jump with several friends to boost funds.

To donate to their appeal visit www.justgiving.com/samhall appeal. Anyone who wants to help can contact Keith on 08452 575868.