A WARNDON mum has vowed to do everything in her power to help a severely deformed baby in the Philippines to undergo the same operation that saved her own son's life.

The Evening News last week appealed for help to raise £2,500 for 20-month-old Shandy Peralta, who was born with the water-on-the-brain disease called hydrocephalus, and will die unless he receives urgent treatment.

Evening News reader Joanne Brookes' six-year-old son, Ashley, is believed to be one of a handful of babies to be born in the UK with the condition and he received immediate surgery at the time of his birth.

She was so touched to read Shandy's heartbreaking story that she has now pledged to raise some of the money with the help of family and friends.

"When Ashley was around six weeks old, he would stop breathing when he was fed," said the mother-of-two, of Windermere Drive, Warndon.

"When we saw Shandy in the paper, it disturbed us to think what could have happened to Ashley and wanted to help by doing some sort of fund-raising.

"Ashley was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and rushed to the Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he had a shunt inserted into his brain to drain the fluid.

"That was six years ago and, other than having the tube replaced, is a completely normal little boy."

Last week's plea, which prompted calls from people across the county, came from Filipina woman and Malvern resident of 14 years, Nenita East, who was sent the pictures of "alien-like" Shandy by the child's aunt and her best friend, Myrna Untalan.

She has set up a HSBC bank account in which to collect the money - around 250,000 pesos - which she hopes to pay the Asian Hospital Medical Centre, Alabang, for the life-saving operation.

The 44-year-old, who left her parents and 11 brothers and sisters in the Philippines in 1990 and now lives in Marlborough gardens with her husband David and two children, has already donated £500 herself but appealed for help to fulfil her quest.

"I have already contacted the hospital and they are just waiting to hear whether we can raise the money."

To find out more, call Melanie Hall on 01905 742248 or e-mail mjh@thisisworcester.co.uk