"A toddler who has been in hospital for most of his life is preparing to spend his first Christmas at home after finally being discharged. Nineteen-month-old Bertie Melly had severe health issues when he was born prematurely at 24 weeks, weighing just 1lb 10oz (0.7kg). As well as needing help to breathe, he was found to have a life-threatening illness affecting his intestines. He has undergone five operations - the first at just 10 days old."
"After spending more than 500 days in hospital, Bertie is now at home in Bromley, south-east London, with his parents, Phoebe and Callum Melly, who say he is "making really good progress". Bertie was born after a 17-minute labour at London's St Thomas' Hospital in May 2024. Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with necrotising enterocolitis, a condition which causes tissue in the intestines to become inflamed and start to die."
"He is still being fed by tube and receiving nutrients through an intravenous drip. However, Mrs Melly said Bertie had been making "really good progress" medically and had been "thriving" since coming home in November. She added: "He's physically developing really well, I think he's not that far off walking now. "He's climbing up the stairs, on and off the sofa, and getting a bit more confident with his standing.""
Nineteen-month-old Bertie Melly was born at 24 weeks weighing 1lb 10oz and developed necrotising enterocolitis soon after birth. He required respiratory support and five operations, the first at ten days old, and spent more than 500 days in hospital, including six months in neonatal intensive care. He remains fed by tube and receives nutrients via an intravenous drip. Since discharge to his Bromley home in November he has shown steady improvement, climbing stairs, standing more confidently and nearing walking. His parents hope to wean him off the drip and on to solid food within a year to return to a mostly normal life.
Read at www.bbc.com
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