Bid to bring home little baby who has spent his first 9 months in hospital

It’s been difficult. Hospital life isn’t very fun and you have good days and bad days. Cerys Aubrey-Kent

AT nine months old this little boy has spent his whole life in hospital wards.

But, despite now being medically fit, he could still be waiting a while to come home.

Joshua Kent had to be resuscitated for nine minutes before being taken to intensive care when he was born a month early by emergency c-section last year.

After an overwhelming journey, which saw their newborn transferred between hospitals in Coventry and Birmingham three times, his parents now have to install specialist equipment in their house and wait for the council to approve a care package before he can be brought home.

They have been told it could take months.

He has been diagnosed with a lung condition called bronchomalacia, which means he will need long-term ventilation support.

A JustGiving page set up by their friend has already managed to raise more than £1,000 for the new parents in the hope that it will speed up the process.

Cerys Aubrey-Kent, 32, and her partner Tom are now desperate to take their baby boy back to their home in Stoke.

“It’s been nine months in total, it’s a very long time,” she said. “It’s been difficult. Hospital life isn’t very fun and you have good days and bad days.

“He is now medically fit to come home but we need things like a specialist pushchair and equipment for the house in place before he can leave.

“Once he’s home he’ll have nurses with him three or four nights a week and he’ll need to be monitored 24-7.

“The thought of being able to take him home after all this time is scary and exciting. But more exciting than scary, we can’t wait. We’ve waited a very long time for it.”

Joshua spent the first seven weeks of his life in intensive care at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire before being transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for three months.

Whilst there he suffered a stroke, which left him partially-sighted, and had a catheter in his heart.

After another month at Coventry, he ended up in Birmingham Children’s Hospital a second time when his reliance on oxygen began creeping up, where he has been ever since.

The couple have been living at the charity-funded Ronald MacDonald House in Birmingham, which allows parents to stay as close to their babies as possible during their hospital stay.

First-time mum Cerys, who previously suffered two miscarriages before Joshua came along, said she is very grateful for the generous donations the family has received so far.

“The support has been amazing. It’s breathtaking that many people are behind us and wanting him to come home as much as we do. It has been emotional for us,” she added.

At the time of writing the JustGiving page had received £1,455 of its £5,000 target.

The money will be used to buy a special pushchair that can hold a ventilator, oxygen and suction machine as well as a second cot for the nursery so nurses can stay overnight.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bringjoshuakenthome