Sebastian Harter-Jones, who came close to death as a nine-week-old baby, gave our readers a very real reason why they should dig deep for our appeal.

In October 2005 his parents, Ruth and David, shared with us the trauma they went through when their son was admitted to York Hospital with suspected meningitis.

Three years on, the happy family, of Dringhouses, York, have joined us in celebrating the grand opening of the hospital’s new high-dependency unit for children.

Ruth, 40, said: “When we helped launch the appeal, I thought £300,000 was a very tough target and I’m amazed that it has been reached in such a relatively small time scale.

“It has been wonderful to read in The Press how the whole community has come together with a common purpose.

“It is great to think that the new facility is now there and will be there to benefit children for years to come.”

Ruth, who raised £100 for the appeal by holding a coffee morning, said the new, fully equipped high dependency unit would make such a difference for little patients like Sebastian, who is now three.

She said: “He is 100 per cent fine now and it all seems quite unreal, looking back at it now.

“It was an absolutely horrendous few days and there were times when we thought he was going to die.

“It was incredible that he came through and is in perfect health today.”

Ruth said she felt like she owed it to York Hospital to support the Guardian Angels Appeal because the staff had been so wonderful.

She said: “Within 48 hours Sebastian had gone from being a totally healthy baby to one who was desperately ill.

“It really could happen to anyone, but now every parent in York can be reassured that York Hospital has the very best facilities should their child need it.”