Seven-year-old James Welsh was beaming with anticipation as he finished school for the holidays. Little did he know that an accident was about to save his life.

Falling off a ladder a week before Christmas proved to be the best thing that could have happened to the brave youngster.

Mum Lisa took him to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where doctors, via a trip to the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton, eventually took a brain scan.

Then on Christmas Eve, having been referred to Kings College Hospital, London, her worst fears were confirmed.

James had a brain tumour and if he was not operated on the next morning, he would die.

Lisa, 33, of The Bricky, Peacehaven, said: "It's every mother's worst nightmare.

"They were all so excited when he and his brother and sisters broke up from school and so it has also been a disappointment to them all.

"If he hadn't had that fall I don't know what would have happened."

James was looking for toys in the loft when he fell off the ladder and banged his head.

It was only when doctors examined his eyes that they saw signs of the tumour.

A detailed MRI scan at Kings College Hospital revealed that a tumour was growing behind a cyst on James's brain.

Lisa said knowing that James would miss Christmas was heartbreaking.

She said: "He was crying and I really wanted to take him home. He wanted to go home to be with his sisters."

James went into theatre for his six-hour operation at 8.30am on Christmas Day.

The surgery was a success, although Lisa has yet to find out whether or not the tumour was cancerous and whether it could come back.

She said: "We managed to get him his presents to open at 7am before he had the operation but he wasn't really interested.

"When he came out the surgeon said to me it went really well.

"He did say James could lose his speech and movement in his arms and legs. They also said that he could die during the operation.

"When he came round, the first thing he said was 'Mum', and I knew then it was going to be okay.

"I asked what would have happened if I had taken James home. They said 'you would have had a dead son in the morning'."

Lisa said she was planning to recreate Christmas just for James.

She said: "When he woke up he said to me 'has it been Christmas yet?'.

"I said that it had but we were going to have Christmas when he got home - but he's not up to it at the moment.

"I'm so angry this could have happened and I really want to blame someone but there is no one to blame.

"I keep telling myself that I am lucky to still have him."

For the rest of James's family, Christmas was a struggle.

Brother Billy, 14, and sisters Bobbie, 12, Carla, eight and Amy, five, spent it apart from James and Lisa.

Lisa said: "We haven't really had a Christmas and my children didn't enjoy it very much. It has been a real nightmare.

"One of the first things James asked was whether he would still be poorly next year."

James was allowed home on Wednesday in time for New Year.

He can talk and walk with help and will have physiotherapy and care from community nurses.

James's uncle, Darren Todd, of Gibbon Road, Newhaven, is now planning a special Christmas Day for the family.

Darren is appealing for a restaurant to provide a belated Christmas dinner for up to 30 people.

He said: "I want to dress up as Father Christmas and we would give each other one present and have a Christmas dinner.

"It was the worst Christmas we have ever had.

"We had to be brave for our other kids and make our children as happy as possible on Christmas morning.

"We were watching the clock at 8.30am knowing James was going down for an operation."

If your restaurant could help give James the Christmas he missed, call Darren on 01273 515022.