A DORSET couple are celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple - thanks to the support of Julia's House children's hospice.

Lydia and Ben Warman have two children with the same life-threatening condition, but were able to enjoy their big day when the youngsters' carers came along to the wedding to look after them.

Staff from the hospice, which has a base in Corfe Mullen, attended to provide a care session for Darcie, four, and three-year-old Hunter, so that their parents could relax and enjoy the day without worrying about any medical issues.

Lydia said: "We were so thankful for Laura, Celia and Cathy on the day. They took a huge stress off of us and family members knowing that Darcie and Hunter were looked after and okay.”

Darcie was diagnosed with vocal chord paralysis, which means her vocal chords push into, and narrow, her airway. Muscle around her airway is also floppy, so having a tracheotomy - a tube through her neck into her throat - is the only way to keep her breathing.

Hunter was also fitted with a tracheotomy aged three-and-a-half, after having trouble breathing. He does not have a diagnosis, but it is thought he may have a muscle condition - a more extreme version of what affects his sister.

Lydia, who lives in Moreton, near Dorchester, says the children need 24-hour care: "They got to bed at 7pm and I got to bed at 8pm, but that's because I am up for an hour every four hours to put the children on a nebuliser, a mask that they wear over their tracheas, for 20 minutes to help their airway clear of secretions."

She added the care of the Julia's House team had been invaluable to all the family: "The children get so excited, they literally jump up and down when they know the Julia's House team are coming. They do baking, bubbles or play outside.

"We have weekly care sessions at home and then, once a month, I take them to the hospice. Darcie calls it Alex's house after her Julia's House nurse."

A Julia's House spokeswoman said: "We really do provide care wherever families need it – even a wedding! When Darcie and Hunter’s mum and dad got married their Julia’s House nurses and carers were there too."