A MUM-TO-BE has launched a fundraising campaign after being given the heartbreaking news that her daughter will be born with a life-threatening medical condition.

Jade Adams found out her first baby has gastroschisis, meaning her intestines have formed outside of her body.

Now the 20-year-old and her partner Lewis Musto, 27, have decided to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where their daughter will spend the first few weeks of her life for vital treatment.

The sales worker said: “We had our first scan and were told everything was absolutely fine.

“But at the 12-week scan we were told that something didn’t seem right and further investigation was needed.

“Within two days we were referred to University College Hospital London to confirm that our baby had gastroschisis.

“This means the intestines form on the outside of the stomach.

“This news was heartbreaking to hear for both of us and difficult to deal with.

“For the first few months it was horrible because we didn’t have a good understanding of it, but we have discovered a lot more about it since then.”

After several visits to University College Hospital London (UCHL) – where Jade will be induced at 38 weeks – the couple now know what lays in store for their daughter and what they will have to do.

She said: “Once our baby is born she will then be taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital where the doctors and surgeons there will help to keep her fighting and put things back in place so that hopefully she can live a relatively normal life.

“They will take the baby straight from me when she is born.

“What they do is cling film the intestines around the stomach as soon as possible.

“They like to do surgery within four days.

“They said it could be about six weeks before she can come home.

“With the help and support of UCHL and GOSH we are able to get through it with the hope that our baby will be coming home with us sooner than we had initially expected.”

Children born with gastroschisis have a 90 per cent survival rate, thanks to the medical advances which have been made in recent years.

Jade, of Bradford Street, Braintree, said: “We really want to give back to the people giving our baby a push start in life.”

The couple have organised a charity football match to be held at Braintree Leisure Centre in Panfield Lane, from midday on May 1.

Later that day there will be a music event, barbecue and raffles at Tomos Tavern in Panfield Lane, Braintree.

To donate visit justgiving.com/JadeLewis2.