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But tiny Billy Nugent died in his mum’s arms just days after he was born after a brave fight against mystery medical problems, which devastated mother Sally Armstrong hopes can be cured for other children in future.

Billy’s family, from Cantley, has now set up an appeal to raise money in gratitude to the doctors who tried to save his life. Click here to donate.

Billy was a first son together for Sally and his dad, Kevin Nugent, after doctors had told Sally that treatment she had undergone for cancer between 2001 and 2009 meant she could not have more children. Since then, they went onto have two daughters, Millie, aged seven, and Daisy, aged three, but Billy was their first son together.

Billy Nugent died aged six days. His family, from Doncaster, are trying to raise money for the hospital where he was treated.

The couple discovered she was pregant while on holiday in Turkey last year. They described him as their ‘miracle’ baby

After a difficult pregnancy, 40-year-old Sally gave birth to Billy on February 17, three weeks early at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

But Sally was worried that something was wrong from the start. He did not cry, and his eyes remained shut. He seemed lethargic. When she had a video call with her oldest daughter, Natalie Coniam, aged 23, Natalie raised concerns about Billy’s dusty blue colour.

Sally called the midwife, and the medical team tried to put more oxygen into his system. But he was not coming round. He was taken upstairs, and tubes were put in to help him feed and breathe.

Billy Nugent died aged six days. His is pictured with mum Sally Armstong. His family, from Doncaster, are trying to raise money for the hospital where he was treated.

Doctors thought Billy could have a rare infection which was preventing him from maintaining his oxygen levels. Initially they thought he had a condition which meant Billy thought he was still in the womb.

But it was later found he had blown a hole in his lung causing it to collapse.

Worried doctors who were struggling to stabilise him decided he would have to be sent to Leeds Children’s Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for specialist care, using equipment called an ECMO machine – Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation. It uses an artificial lung, the membrane, to oxygenate the blood outside the body.

The doctors kept Billy alive for six days – but he had to be taken off the machine after it emerged he had suffered a bleed to his brain.

Billy Nugent died aged six weeks. His family, from Doncaster, are trying to raise money for the hospital where he was treated. He is pictured with dad Kevin Nugent

The hospital told his parents to go and get some sleep in special accommodation at the hospital for parents at poorly children.

Sally soon felt something was wrong.

“I had a pain in my chest,” she said. “I just felt I needed to go to Billy.

“I went to sleep, but woke up at 12.30am. It was like I just needed to go to him. It was as though he was calling me back. Then 10 minutes later we got a call saying they didn’t think he was going to make it. He had blown another hole in his lung because of the pressure. I spoke to the doctor and we were both crying. I begged them to make him survive. She said he had been amazing, but they could not do any more.

“They said ‘do you want to hold him while he passes?’, and I said ‘yes’. I held him and I sang to him, and I told him that I loved him. I felt his last breath at 6.45am. We spent the whole day with him after that.”

He died on February 23, just six days old.

Doctors carried out a post mortem examination, but were unable to explain why he had died.

They asked the couple to donate Billy’s brain to medical science – and despite having initially wanting them not to touch his head, they agreed.

“He was our little fighter,” said Sally. “He is going to get them a cure for something. We want to do anything we can to help other babies. If we can help another baby live his life, that is brilliant.”

The couple decided they wanted to raise money for the hospital where Billy was cared for in his memory

Sally was touched how doctors who were due to finish their shifts stayed with him for hours to try to save him.

“The PICU was amazing – I couldn’t fault them in any way. Doctors even stayed overnight and slept on a sofa after they should have gone home.

“I had my 40th birthday while Billy was in hospital. They put banners all around and even got gifts from Billy for me. It was the best birthday I ever had because I got to spend it with Billy.”

The couple had Billy’s ashes brought to their home this week, following his recent funeral, which was attended only by his parents and his sister, Natalie, due to coronavirus restrictions.

Sister Natalie set up a fundraising site on the internet in her brother’s memory.

On it she stated: “He was the most beautiful little boy and we miss him more every day.

“In honour of Billy’s name we are asking if anyone of you can make a donation no matter how big or small to support Leeds children’s hospital PICU ward. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have got to see Billy for six days. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have been able to change his nappies or see him open his eyes.

“The nurses and doctors there are some of the best people I have ever met, so kind, caring, compassionate and truly amazing. They went over and beyond staying over the shift for more than 12 hours getting two hours sleep on a sofa, making sure that Billy was comfortable. They never left his sight.”

Log onto https://www.gofundme.com/f/sally-and-kevins-campaign-for-leeds-cares to donate.

'Miracle' baby Billy Nugent died in Doncaster mum's arms but now offers hope for the future