Just two days after her birth Jasmine Cross needed surgery to remove a nerve-filled sac the size of a cricket ball from the base of her spine.  

The Costessey youngster, now two years old, was born with a form of spina bifida called myelomeningocele at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

That meant Jasmine started life with a three-week stint in The Rosie Hospital in Cambridge for her surgery - but parents Jimmy and Lana did not leave her side.  

Norwich Evening News: The Cross family are please that Jasmine is doing well The Cross family are please that Jasmine is doing well (Image: Jimmy Cross)

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The family were supported by charity The Sick Children’s Trust, allowing them to use Chestnut House, a home from home just minutes from the hospital which they were able to use free of charge.  

"Chestnut House was a real godsend," said Jimmy "It relieved a lot of pressure having a ‘home from home’.  

Norwich Evening News: Jasmine Cross in hospital just days after her operation Jasmine Cross in hospital just days after her operation (Image: Jimmy Cross)

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“We would have had to get a hotel without Chestnut House – it would have cost thousands of pounds.

"If we did not get a hotel, I would have driven from Norwich every day. 

Norwich Evening News: Robbie Riches (centre left) and Karl Sutton (centre right) were winners of the pool competition Robbie Riches (centre left) and Karl Sutton (centre right) were winners of the pool competition (Image: Pinches Cue Club)

“I cannot thank them enough for everything they did for us.” 

More recently, Jimmy, a keen snooker player and qualified coach, has worked with professional snooker player Barry Pinches to raise £1,700 for the charity by hosting a snooker competition at Pinches Cue Club in Barker Street.

Norwich Evening News: George Pragnell (centre), flanked by Barry Pinches (L) and Jimmy Cross (R), was the winner of the snooker competition George Pragnell (centre), flanked by Barry Pinches (L) and Jimmy Cross (R), was the winner of the snooker competition (Image: Pinches Cue Club.)

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Barry, 53, who has defeated world champions Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams during his career and reached the 2003 UK Championship quarter-final, said: “It was a pleasure to help support such a good cause.” 

Norwich Evening News: Jimmy Cross, Barry Pinches and charity representative Richard Stainthorpe Jimmy Cross, Barry Pinches and charity representative Richard Stainthorpe (Image: Pinches Cue Club.)

Now, weeks away from her third birthday, the Cross family are happy to report that Jasmine is doing well.  

Jimmy added: “She is a happy little girl, every day is a blessing.”