Davey Bates from Mirfield, West Yorkshire, was given just a 50% chance of survival when he was born has defied the odds and is now getting ready to start school this month.
Before he was even born it was discovered he had a birth defect causing a hole in his diaphragm, allowing the organs from the abdomen to move into his chest. Davey’s stomach, spleen, small and large intestines were in his chest, crushing his left lung and shifting his heart to the right side of his body.
His parents, Sami and Paul, were warned he would need surgery shortly after being born, but that he might not survive due to the severity of his condition. At one day old he had surgery to insert a synthetic patch to prevent his organs from moving back into his chest. The operation was successful and after two weeks at Leeds Children’s Hospital Davey was transferred to his local hospital before returning home a week later.
During his time in Leeds, Sami and Paul were never more than a stone’s throw from his hospital bedside as they were supported with a place to stay at Eckersley House. Eckersley House is a ‘Home from Home’ ran by charity The Sick Children’s Trust and keeps families close to their seriously ill child in hospital.
Davey made a full recovery with his lungs expanding to the normal size and his heart moving back to the correct place. He has not needed any further treatment and is now looking forward to walking through the school gates. Sami said:
“Davey is doing amazingly well. He loves playing with his siblings and he is very excited about starting school, meeting his new teacher and playing in the playground with his new friends.
“He was due to go to nursery last year but then the pandemic hit and he was unable to go, so this will be a big step for him. With everything he has been through we are very excited for Davey to be starting school and making new friends.
“Even all these years later, we can never thank The Sick Children’s Trust and the lovely team at Eckersley House enough for their help. Because of them, our family was able to stay together and we didn’t have to travel miles each day to be with Davey when he was receiving the care he needed.”
Eckersley House is one of The Sick Children’s Trust’s ten ‘Homes from Home’ that supports families from around the UK with a warm a comfortable place to stay close to their seriously ill child in hospital. Eckersley House Manager, Jane McHale said:
“We’re thrilled to hear how well Davey is doing and how excited he is to be starting school and making new friends. We know he will have a great time and we wish him all the best.
