'Warrior' baby home after 304 days in hospital

A baby who spent 304 days in hospital battling three heart conditions, multiple strokes and having several surgeries has finally been allowed home.

Milo, who was born at just 27 weeks, has been described as a "pure warrior" by his mum Laura, who credits staff at Bristol Children's Hospital with saving the 10-month-old's life multiple times.

"There is hope, I've done so many days of wanting to give up... I just want to prove you can be in NICU, PICU, on the ward for 304 days and your baby can come home," Laura said.

During Milo and his twin brother Leo's stay at hospital their family was put up in accommodation by the Grand Appeal, which Laura says was "absolutely beautiful".

When Milo and Leo were born in Oxford, they weighed about 1.2kg (2.6lbs), and were not brought together until they were 29 days old at Bristol Children's Hospital.

"Milo was born with TGA (transposition of the great arteries), VSD (ventricular septal defect), and ASD (atrial septal defect)," Laura said.

"Once he was scanned, we found a narrowing of the pulmonary artieries that wasn't picked up on the scans but that's why his heart is so tiny.

"He was born so small and so early that nothing could actually be done until he hit 3kg."

Milo's conditions ensured he had to stay at Bristol Children's Hospital. Shortly after day 200, he had "a really bad stroke", Laura said, and was found to have a brain injury.

It was then a six to seven-week wait until surgery could be done and the family were warned by a neurologist Milo would probably never smile again.

Palliative care was discussed, Laura said, and the family feared the worst.

"[But] Milo, being the incredible Milo, just showed everybody. A week later and he started doing all these things they said that we wouldn't see, and started smiling again," she added.

Milo finally came home to Churchdown, near Gloucester, on 11 August. He sleeps in a hospital cot bed because he must lie at a 30° angle to facilitate tube feeding and faces having to have more surgery down the line.

But, Laura said, despite the hardships she misses the other NICU parents and staff at Bristol Children's Hospital, stating she met "best friends that I will have for the rest of my life".

"They saved my child's life on multiple occasions," she said.

"I honestly can't praise them enough. We need more people like them in this world."

Laura has praised The Grand Appeal, the children's hospital official charity, which arranged accommodation for the family on the fourth day of Milo's stay.

"It meant we could actually stay because it would be an hour drive there and back each time," she said.

"You get to stay in a beautiful home so close to your babies."

Alvin Schadenberg, paediatric intensivist at Bristol Children's Hospital, said Milo faced "some serious challenges".

"Both him and Laura have shown their great determination and strength in responding to those, and we are pleased to see Milo recovering well," he said.

"While everyone who has supported Milo and Laura will miss them, we are delighted that he's well enough to leave our care."

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