ARDROSSAN goalkeeper Ross Lundy has revealed that football helped him cope after learning the devastating news that his new baby may only have a 50/50 chance of survival.

The 24-year-old Largs Thistle keeper was ready to quit the game to support his girlfriend Carla, but she encouraged Ross to carry on playing. 

And he was rewarded with a hat-trick of trophies at the Thistle Player of the Year celebration recently.

Their baby has a condition known as CDH - congenital diaphragmatic hernia - where there is a hole in the diaphragm affecting the stomach, liver and intestines, leaving little room for the lungs to grow.

Carla is due to give birth in early August, and the young Ardrossan couple, face an anxious wait.

Carla will be taken to Yorkhill Hospital a week before her due date, and after she has given birth, doctors will carry out an emergency operation to help the baby’s respiration process.

Ross said: “When we found out that our baby had CDH, it was during the 20 week scan. 

“It happens to one in 2500 babies, and we had never heard of it. It was obviously a devastating blow, and I was ready to chuck football to spend more time with Carla.

“But Carla turned round to me and said - don’t chuck football, Ross, you need to keep your football going, and I am glad that she did, as we went on to have a terrific finish to the season with promotion, and winning the trophies at the Player of the Year event.

“Carla’s support of me has been fantastic, and I couldn’t have achieved any of this without her.”

Ross and Carla, who are due to get married next year, are praying for good news.

Ross said: “Yorkhill Hospital have been excellent, and after the scan, we were in for four hours and they fully explained everything.

“Carla has been going ever since every two weeks for scans. It is now just waiting - and staying positive.

“You sometimes think - why did this have to happen to us? But it is important to keep a positive mindset.

“There will be a couple of hurdles along the way, but our baby could go on one day, and play upfront for Largs Thistle.

“I feel it is important to raise awareness of CDH - it happens at the early stages of pregnancy and as yet, we still don’t know why it happens.”

Ross is a crowd favourite at Barrfields, and has played an important role in Thistle’s success story during recent seasons, as the club have been on an upward curve from the depths of relegation, to getting promoted. And football has helped give Ross a positive focus.

During the recent Player of the Year celebrations in Largs, Ross collected a hat-trick of awards - Players’ Player of the Year, Supporters Player of the Year, and Committee’s Player of the Year awards.

Carla regularly attends Thistle matches, with Ross’s parents Bill and Irene.

Largs Thistle President Martin Phillips said: “I don’t know how Ross did it, to play on and know Carla’s condition.

“And for him to pick up the awards, it shows the testament of his character, and what a big player he has been for us this season considering what he has been going through off the park.

“The club wish Carla and Ross all the best, it is going to be a difficult time for them, and the club are with them all the way, and we want to give our best wishes and hope everything is okay.”