A GLASGOW dad is set to take on a 10K charity challenge in honour of the city hospital which saved his newborn son’s life after the tot suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jason Matthews will join the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run next month to raise cash for both Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London, as a thank you for the life-saving surgery and care they provided for his baby son.

The 37-year-old’s son Angus Joshua Russell was born almost six weeks premature in September 2016, after his mother Oona developed two life-threatening conditions - pre-eclampsia and HELLP, which affect blood pressure and liver enzymes.

Angus himself was born with three different conditions, including Tracheal Stenosis which causes breathing problems, as well as a Pulmonary Arterial Sling and Tetralogy of Fallot, two separate cardiac issues that affect the function of the heart and the flow of blood to the lungs.

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Doting dad Jason said: “Oona has been the most dedicated and resilient person I know. She has played both doctor and mum, bearing a considerable burden.

“The last two years have been a rollercoaster, so my sincerest and heartfelt thanks go to friends and family for all the different ways we have received support.

“Furthermore, it is impossible to express the huge gratitude we have towards staff at both Glasgow’s Hospital for Sick Children and Great Ormond Street in London. The care we received in both institutions was phenomenal.

“Angus now has an opportunity he simply wouldn’t have had without their help. The empathy, wisdom and care shown by staff was a testament to our NHS and something my wife and I will never forget.”

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The tot was due to be transferred to Great Ormond Street after four months in the city’s neo-natal intensive care unit but suffered a devastating cardiac arrest meaning his vital surgery was delayed again.

But in June 2017, brave Angus finally had the life-saving operation to repair the hole in his heart; re-plumb his left pulmonary artery that was mis-placed, and most significantly, re-structure his entire windpipe, which was so narrow it only had a diameter of 2mm.

Angus is now approaching 2 years old and, whilst still on constant oxygen, is living the life of a normal little boy. His long-term prognosis is looking positive.

Jason said: “He has been a remarkably brave and strong wee chap, and we’re both just so proud of him and what he’s achieved.

“He is almost walking unaided, remains quite picky with his food and is happily testing his parents’ boundaries.

“He loves trains, cars and Peter Rabbit!

Jason and Oona will now thank the hospitals by completing the half marathon as Angus watches from the side lines.

To enter visit greatscottishrun.com or to support the duo visit justgiving.com/teams/jasonoona.