In a heartwarming story, a toddler who spent most of his life in the hospital is finally home for Christmas. Nineteen-month-old Bertie Melly, born prematurely at just 24 weeks and weighing only 1lb 10oz, has overcome numerous health challenges to reach this joyous milestone.
Bertie’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Shortly after his premature birth at London’s St Thomas’ Hospital in May 2024, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition affecting his intestines, known as necrotising enterocolitis. This led to him undergoing five operations, the first at just 10 days old.
For the first six months of his life, Bertie was cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit before being transferred to the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where he remained for a staggering 547 days. During this time, he was fed through a tube and received vital nutrients through an intravenous drip.
Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Bertie’s parents, Phoebe and Callum Melly, never lost hope. “He’s physically developing really well, I think he’s not that far off walking now,” said Mrs Melly. “He’s climbing up the stairs, on and off the sofa, and getting a bit more confident with his standing.”
Mr Melly echoed this sentiment, describing his son as “the happiest child you will ever meet.” He added, “Considering everything he’s been through – if you see his hands, his hands are covered in scars from the amount of cannulas he’s had, he’s got gaping scars all over his abdomen – and he wakes up beaming, goes to bed, beaming. He’s a remarkable little human being.”
In recent weeks, the Melly family has been able to take Bertie to see Father Christmas, although Mrs Melly noted that he was “more interested in all the decorations.” The couple expressed their eternal gratitude to the team at the Evelina for their tireless efforts in caring for their son.
Iain Yardley, a consultant paediatric and neonatal surgeon at the Evelina London, who was involved in Bertie’s care, said, “Bertie has faced many, many challenges in his short life. He and his parents have faced these challenges with extraordinary grace and courage. Seeing him go home is what we all have been working for, and we could not be more pleased for him and his family.”
As Bertie and his family prepare to celebrate their first Christmas together at home, their story serves as a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and the incredible work of the medical professionals who dedicated themselves to Bertie’s well-being. This Christmas miracle is a heartwarming reminder of the strength of the human spirit.
