A YOUNG mum said her flat was “killing” her son who is faced with climbing two flights of stairs despite needing heart surgery.

Cassie Hawthorn, 22, is pleading with Basildon Council to help her find a new place to live because of her 23-month-old son Jack’s debilitating condition.

The tot has the rare heart disease, Shones Complex and critical aortic stenosis, and climbing the two flights of stairs to his home in Loxford, on the Felmores estate, puts undue pressure on his heart.

Jack is supposed to have a valve transplant when he’s six, but doctors have warned he may have to have it aged three if he continues to over-exert himself.

Mum Cassie tries to carry him, but struggles as she broke her pelvis in a road accident.

Her husband Tony, 24, also has back pain, tennis elbow and no muscle in his knees.

Cassie claims Basildon Council said the family members were fit enough to live in the council-owned flat.

She said: “This flat is killing my son. I don’t want to lose him. I have tried everything.

“I have begged them, but they are just not listening to me.

“When Jack has his operation, he will be on a life-support machine and I want him to be older to be able to handle it.”

Jack has also developed a sodium deficiency, which causes him to have fits.

Cassie thinks this was also caused by him over-exerting himself.

Cassie, Tony, their four-year old son Matthew, and Jack were put into the property as emergency accommodation 14 months ago.

They were promised they would be moved as soon as an appropriate home became available. After more than a year of trying, the council has now requested MRI scans and XRays, despite them already having been provided with medical records from doctors.

Cassie added: “I will eventually be wheelchair bound if I keep walking up the stairs.

“If I am on my own, I will carry him up the stairs, but I will have to take pain killers in the evening.Ihave no choice, I have to put my son’s health before my own. I don’t know how this works butIam desperate for someone to help me.”

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “Mr and Mrs Hawthorn have applied to the council for alternative accommodation and their transfer request has been dealt with in accordance with the allocation scheme.

“A medical form submitted by the family was assessed by an independent medical advisor, who advised there were no grounds for medical priority at the time.

“However, the medical advisor has advised he will review the decision when the council receives additional medical information in relation to Mrs Hawthorn's medical condition.

“A letter was sent to Mrs Hawthorn on July 27 advising of this and the council is still waiting for the additional information to be provided by the family.”