A toddler who was not expected to live 24 hours died 22 months after he was born.

Kieron Gunningham's parents were determined to give their son a chance despite him being born with an inoperable heart condition when doctors wanted to turn support machines off and fought for him to have the best life he could.

Kieron also suffered from CHARGE Syndrome, which affects the cranial nerves, physical development, and can also cause facial paralysis.

The happy and cheerful boy gave his parents joy throughout his short life and his funeral was filled with people whose lives he had touched.

Keiron, from Warmley, suffered several sudden episodes of ill health in February and June and his parents were warned that he would have more until he had a similar spell for no apparent reason that he would not recover from.

He died at the children's hospice Charlton Farm three weeks ago after becoming unwell again.

Kieron needed drugs every day, which his mum Deborah was taught to prepare, and was fed using a tube.

Mrs Gunningham, 43, attended Charlton Farm with Kieron about every six to eight weeks, where specialist nurses took over his care.

Her husband Adrian is in the Merchant Navy and spends long periods of time away at sea so visiting the children's hospice at Wraxall gave Mrs Gunningham the chance to take a break from caring for Kieron around-the-clock.

The family were already due to head to Wraxall as an emergency case but Kieron had problems with his oxygen supply that took a while to recover from.

Mrs Gunningham said: "He had another episode and couldn't come around from it.

"We knew this would happen at some point and we knew he would not be here forever but we really did not think it would be as quick as this.

"Kieron looked so peaceful. He had a weakness, a palsy down his face but when he passed away he had a lovely expression.

"There was nothing we could do, he didn't suffer and a doctor was there.

"He was a loved little boy."

Mrs Gunningham said that Kieron stopped breathing several times in his first 24 hours.

Doctors suggested switching off the machines but his parents said they would fight as long as their little boy did.

She said: "We fought with him as long as he had fight. Everyone has been so brilliant in what they have done for him."

The youngster loved music and being made a fuss of and when the family attended Charlton Farm children's hospice for respite breaks the nurses loved coming up with new ways of entertaining him.

Mrs Gunningham said: "He was such a loved little boy, by everybody who came into contact with him.

"There were so many people at his funeral from all walks of life, people from Charlton Farm, including the cooks. That is how much he meant to a lot of people. The support we have had is phenomenal.

"Charlton Farm have done so much. They have been phoning us every couple of days to make sure we are all right.

"It was 24/7 care and without the support of Charlton Farm and the Jessie May Trust and all the other support we got for those 22 months, I don't know what it would have been like. They were a Godsend.

"The first time we went to Charlton Farm Kieron was so small and everyone fell in love with him. Nothing was too much trouble."

Children's Hospice South West, which runs Charlton Farm, gets very little statutory funding and relies on fundraising to provide the service that gives the families of children with life-limiting illnesses a much-needed break.

On September 4, women are being encouraged to take part in the charity's first Midnight Memory Walk in the city.

The seven-mile sponsored walk will start with a candle-lit ceremony at Ashton Gate Stadium before participants make their way around Bristol.

For more information call 01275 866600, email midnight@chsw.org.uk or visit www.chsw.org.uk.