A FAMILY is heartbroken to have their lives put on hold after discovering their son's hip condition had been missed by the hospital.

Reuben Stewart, who is nearly two, has hip dysplasia, where the ball joint in his hip is disconnected.

After his mum Kirsty noticed him walking with a limp, she took him back to the hospital to find he actually had no ball joint at all.

It was something that should have been picked up at an ultrasound when he was born, but never was.

Miss Stewart, 31, from Halstead, said: "When he was first born he should have been put in a splint but it was missed by Colchester Hospital.

"One doctor at Halstead sent him back when he started limping and now it's too late, he needs surgery.

"It runs in my family so the midwives checked up on it straight away, but it wasn't until he started walking that I knew something wasn't right and I demanded an X-Ray."

Reuben was sent to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in London, where he was told he would need a ball joint put in.

Only one child out of 1,000 has the condition.

Miss Stewart, from White Horse Avenue, said: "It's really annoying that he's nearly two and we have only just found out something was wrong.

"He has to be in a cast for six to eight weeks so he won't be able to walk and the whole family will need to support him.

"He has to have a special car seat made as well."

Reuben enjoys running around with his sister Rihanna, nine, and brother Rhys, six.

After surgery he will have to learn to walk over again.

Miss Stewart said: "It's going to be really difficult when he has the surgery, it's a rollercoaster of emotion.

"He's a really happy baby who loves running around and if it was dealt with at the beginning he wouldn't have had to do this.

"He wants to climb up things and run around but he will have to learn how to walk again and it's heartbreaking to know our lives are on hold."

She was planning to go to Yarmouth in June with her partner Kurt Seago and the children, but as Reuben's surgery falls on the same weekend the family has had to cancel.

Instead they are holding a tea party at their home at 39 White Horse Avenue from 11.30am on Saturday, May 28.

It is to raise money for STEPS, a charity supporting children with lower limb conditions.

A spokesman for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are sorry and disappointed that Mrs Stewart has some concerns that her son’s condition may not have been diagnosed as soon as it should have been.

“However, as far as we can ascertain, she has never raised these issues with us – our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and complaints service has not been contacted.

“Therefore, we would encourage her to contact us as soon as possible so we can investigate her claims thoroughly.

“Her son is now under the care of one of our consultant orthopaedic surgeons. His last appointment was at Colchester General Hospital in April, and we wish him well.”