text: A mother whose twins were born so early they spent their first two months in intensive care has revealed she almost lost her son Mason a second time after he contracted an extremely rare virus. Lauren Perry, 25, had her waters break just 23 weeks into her pregnancy, and doctors feared the worst. Her twins Mason and Chloe were delivered early via an emergency caesarean at 30 weeks. Lauren Perry's (right) son, Mason (pictured with sister Chloe and dad Mitch Window), contracted a flesh-eating disease . But the parents' fears for the lives of their newborns did not end there. Eight months later when Mason was admitted to hospital to have his colostomy removed he nearly lost his life to a dangerous flesh-eating virus. It perforated his bowel and ate tissue from his chest cavity. 'He had his colostomy when he was one-day-old so we had to wait until he was much older and bigger to have it removed,' Ms Perry told Daily Mail Australia. She was forced to deliver her twins via caesarean 10 weeks early after he water broke at 30 weeks . Eight months later when Mason was admitted to hospital to have his colostomy removed he nearly lost his life to a dangerous flesh-eating virus . After the surgery, Mason (pictured with his parents) - who was eight months at the time - started going down hill pretty quickly . About a month ago, Mason - who was eight months old - was admitted to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane to have his colostomy removed, in what his mother described as a 'pretty routine operation'. After the surgery, the young boy went into recovery, but started to go downhill quickly. 'We were holding him and over a few hours he became really hot and had a fever,' Ms Perry revealed. 'His vital signs were dropping and he was having trouble breathing.' 'His stomach just tripled in size and had this red purple rash all over him, and as a mum you just know when something's not right.' Fortunately, Mason recovered from the virus. Here he is seen with his scar after having his colostomy removed . Ms Perry said her son's vital signs started dropping and he was having trouble breathing after the surgery . The infection had eaten all the tissue in Mason's chest and abdomen, leaving him fighting for his life . When the doctor who performed Mason's initial surgery came to check on the infant, he immediately rushed the baby back into theatre for an emergency procedure. 'It was a bug that pretty much just ate all the tissue in his chest and abdomen,' the twins' mother said. 'They said if we'd waited another hour or two he would have definitely died, it attacks so quickly,' Ms Perry added. Mason had contracted necrotising fasciitis, a serious rapidly spreading infection that results in death of tissue. 'It can be fatal if symptoms go undetected - approximately 25 per cent of patients with necrotising fasciitis and more than 30 per cent with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome die,' Fionnagh Dougan, Chief Executive of Children's Health Queensland, told Daily Mail Australia. 'A combination of bacteria caused Mason's case of necrotising fasciitis.' Ms Perry revealed after such a tough few months early on in Chloe and Mason's life, she did not know what to expect when he fell ill again . Thankfully Mason is now doing better but his mum says he is not quite back to normal just yet . Ms Perry said her and her partner were simply grateful for all the moments they got to share with their twins . Ms Perry praised the work of doctors at Lady Cilento where her son was treated, describing their work as 'amazing'. Ms Doughan echoed this. 'The speed at which Lady Cilento Children's Hospital clinicians identified Mason's symptoms was paramount to his recover,' Ms Doughan said. 'Mason’s treatment included the rapid administration of intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics and surgical removal of dying tissue as required. 'We were delighted that Mason responded quickly to the range of antibiotics prescribed to combat the bacteria.' Ms Perry revealed after such a tough few months early on in Chloe and Mason's life, she did not know what to expect when he fell ill again. When her waters broke at 23 weeks, the doctor's prognosis was nothing short of grim. 'They said that normally when your waters break you go into labour within 24 hours and they said that would probably happen,' Ms Perry said. 'They said they couldn't resuscitate a baby that small... so they said it would probably be best to wrap them up and keep them warm and cuddle them for as long as we can.' Luckily after a few hurdles, the twins were able to go home after eight weeks, but when Mason got sick again she thought she may never get to take her little boy home for good. 'I honestly thought I would never get to take him home. I remember just collapsing on the floor with my dad and saying "That's my baby. What am I going to do if he dies?"' Ms Perry said. Thankfully Mason is now doing better but his mum says he is not quite back to normal. 'I think the professor that operated that said he's never seen something like what happened to Mason and he's lucky to be alive,' Ms Perry said. 'He's not himself, he doesn't want to be put down, and he was starting to crawl and sit up but he can't do that. 'I think he still feels very vulnerable.' But Ms Perry said her and her partner, Mitch Window, were simply grateful for all the moments they got to share with their twins. 'We don't take anything for granted,' she said.
target: Lauren Perry, 25, gave birth to her twins 10 weeks early at just 30 weeks .
  Mason and Chloe were in intensive care for two months after their birth .
  Ms Perry's son had a colostomy bag put in when he was just one day old .
  When Mason later underwent surgery to have it taken out he got sick .
  Newborn had contracted a flesh-eating virus which almost claimed his life .
  Parents would have lost him if he had been left untreated for another hour .