A MUM who lost her child to a rare virus has told of her joy after giving birth to a baby girl just days before her late son’s birthday.

Arlene Smith, from Renfrew, got the perfect Christmas present as she delivered Summer J Hope ahead of this year’s festivities.

It was an emotional time for Arlene and her husband Paul, who described their daughter as “a little miracle.”

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Arlene had been left devastated in December 2012 when she lost her son Jack Kennedy to an adenovirus infection just days before his sixth birthday.

He had gone to bed with a slight temperature and was taken to hospital in Paisley the next day.

Jack needed specialist care but there were no beds at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital, in Glasgow, so arrangements were made to take him to Edinburgh by ambulance.

Arlene endured a horrendous 90-minute journey to be at his side as there wasn’t room in the ambulance for her to go with him.

Tragically, Jack never regained consciousness.

The infection attacked his heart, causing it to stop, and subsequently starved his brain of oxygen.

After Summer came into the world on December 17, Arlene and Paul took to social media to give their heartfelt thanks to everyone who offered them support.

The post said: “She is our little miracle rainbow baby. A little ray of sunshine and hope in our life and my wish is that she brings hope to others on this journey.

“Jack was very much with us on the day Summer was born and that experience is something that we will never forget. Jack will forever be a part of his little sister’s life.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us on the journey, from family and friends to all of you on here [Facebook] for your lovely comments and messages.”

After losing Jack, Arlene spent weeks trawling the internet, looking for ways to cope with her child’s death, but realised that it was not readily available.

She then launched the Brightest Star charity to provide bereaved families with a support service that would give them the chance to meet others in a similar position and access professional help.

Two days after Summer was born at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, in Glasgow, Arlene and Paul marked the sixth anniversary of Jack’s death.

They have now thanked NHS staff who have supported them in recent times.

Arlene said: “We couldn’t have asked for better care from the QEU hospital, especially from Dr Vagna, who showed us so much compassion and support from day one.

“The NHS is full of angels. They delivered my first born and fought so hard to save his life.

They have given me the gift of a second child and brought her into the world with such love and care.

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“Thank you to everyone who dedicates their life to this profession.”