Imagine not being able to cuddle, comfort and care for your young son when he is sick.

That is exactly the heartbreaking prospect facing Basildon mother Laura Delafuente, 30, of Winstree, Felmores, after both she and her nine-year-old son James were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, in late 2005.

The condition means the two can never be together if one is ill because their immune systems are so low they risk passing on severe infections.

Through tears, Ms Delafuente said: "It just gets hard because you never know when he's going to be ill. It gets very awkward.

"Sometimes I cover my face and just give him a quick hug, but nothing more."

Ms Delafuente said when either she or her son fall ill, James is sent to his grandmother's home until they are both better.

While she had moved her family to be closer to her mother, it was still so hard not being there for her son.

She said: "He phones up and says he wants a cuddle and I can't do anything but talk to him on the phone.

"At least I've got my mum to look after him."

Ms Delafuente, who also has another son Ashley, eight, said James had been undergoing constant testing since the cystic fibrosis was first diagnosed.

James had always had gastric problems and was small for his age, but no one suspected he had the disease.

His mum said: "To look at him, you wouldn't know there was anything wrong."

Ms Delafuente and her son both suffer from severe coughing fits.

She said: "I've had asthma since I was 15, but now doctors think it was probably all to do with the cystic fibrosis.

"It's hard when people stare at you because you're having a coughing fit."

Ms Delafuente and her son have to exercise up to three times a day and James also has to have regular physiotherapy and patting sessions to try to loosen the thick mucus that clogs up the internal organs as part of the disease.

She said: "It's been a big change all of a sudden. I haven't had to be admitted to hospital yet, touch wood, but James has twice.

"I didn't know anything about cystic fibrosis before."

Ms Delafuente moved James to Felmores Primary School, in Davenants, Pitsea, where they understand his condition and have made efforts to make his classmates aware of how they can help him.

The school has also devised a special diet for him.

James may never be able to have children because of the high risk of passing on the condition.

Also, her other son Ashley must have any future partners tested to make sure they do not have the disease, as it could be passed on to their children if they both carry the faulty gene.

There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, but Ms Delafuente holds out hope that one day her family will be able to lead a normal life.

She said: "We're dealing with it and we just take things day by day now. I wouldn't swap James for the world, though."