EastEnders star Kellie Bright has opened up about her new son's scary first few weeks and the inspiration behind his unusual name.
Kellie Bright welcomed her baby boy named Gene back in November, and after enjoying a few months of privacy with her bundle of joy she has revealed how scary her first few weeks as a mother were.
Speaking exclusively to OK! magazine Kellie opened up about her concerns after a chesty cough turned into something much more sinister.
At first doctors tried to reassure Kellie that her son's coughing was normal, but it seems her mother's instinct knew better because sure enough, baby Gene was rushed to hospital.
'He had a nasty cough but the doctors assured me he'd be fine. Then he suddenly went downhill so we rushed him to hospital where he was diagnosed with bronchitis.
'He had to spend a few nights in hospital on oxygen but he's home now and well on the road to recovery.'
Kellie shares her son with husband Paul Stocker, who revealed that their little boy is still struggled with the aftermath of his unfortunate first few weeks, 'He still has a nasty little cough that makes him sound as though he's a 50-a-day smoker the poor thing.'
Image: OK! magazine
It's a house full of boys for Kellie, who also has a five-year-old son named Freddie with Paul.
The couple have also revealed where they got the unique inspiration for their second child's name.
'It was sort of because of my nan,' Kellie said. 'She and I watched a lot of Gene Kelly when I was growing up and just adored him.
'Then Gene Wilder died last year when I was pregnant, so it felt more special.
'The midwife who delivered Gene said in 20 years of delivering babies, he was her first Gene, which we loved.'
Not only inspired by sweet family memories, the couple chose places they love to feature in their children's names also.
'He's Gene Harlyn Stocker - Harlyn after a beach in Cornwall which we visited during my pregnancy. Freddie's middle name is Byron after Byron Bay in Australia.
'I love that they both have a bit of seaside in them.'
We love that Kellie used personal memories to influence her children's names. Do you have any stories behind what you named your little ones? Tell us in the comment box!
Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today
