He's exceeded everyone's expectations - mum gives update on son, 11, after devastating Clayton-le-Woods fire

On January 6, Kim Leighton’s world turned upside down after a fire ripped through their family home at Clayton-le-Woods, leaving both her and her cherished son Cole fighting for their lives.

Kim, who was placed in an induced coma for a month, has since improved and, while she has a long road to recovery, her main focus is getting better to provide strength and support for Cole.

She says her warrior son Cole has exceeded everyone's expectations and is fighting to get better and stronger with every day that passes.

Thanking members of the public for their ourpouring of love and support through messages, she said: “I have had a lot of messages asking how Cole is doing.

“I was discharged 6 weeks ago and I am recovering well, just having to have physio mainly on my hands.

“My burns and grafts are healing well.

“Emotionally this is beyond a rollercoaster ride.”

“Cole is stable, he’s doing well. He’s still in intensive care and we’re still taking it day by day but we have got progress with his recovery, he is awaiting the next chapter of our journey which will begin Friday when his first wave of new skin will be applied to him.

“He’s exceeded everyone’s expectations. His surgeons say how precious he is to them - Cole just needs to carry on doing what he’s doing.

“It’s an amazing process of which his own skin cells have been sent to Canada and grown him new skin.

“This is going to be a long process. The strength and resilience he’s shown throughout his 14 weeks here proves he’s an absolute warrior and we couldnt be more proud of him, he amazes us all everyday.”

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She added: “I just would like to take a little minute to appreciate Craig Taylor. I asked him not to leave Cole’s side and he’s been by his side for the whole duration of this.

“How he’s got through half of what he has here I’ll never know, but luckily we’ve all had incredible support from friends and family especially the kids who have all massively stepped up everyone of them having there own roles and each of them have gone threw so much youd never even imagine youd have to experience.

“I will be forever grateful to them all. Now please all still keep the faith, prayers and positivity for us.

“Come on Coley you little warrior youve got this #cole7.”

As the family lost everything in the fire, a GoFundMe was set up by thoughtful neighbour Mitch Thomas, to help with medical and house costs.

To donate to the GoFundMe page, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/7nt93-help-a-family-that-lost-everything-in-a-house-fire