Gillingham baby with chronic lung disease reunited with twin sister at family home
06:00, 30 October 2019
updated: 14:45, 01 November 2019
Poorly baby Chance Burnett who spent his first seven months in hospital, can now go home for a few hours a day to be with his twin sister Callie - thanks to a charity.
Nine-month-old Chance and Callie arrived prematurely, and by emergency Caesarian, at just 27 weeks.
While the little girl was born healthy and able to return to the family home in Gillingham, her brother was diagnosed with chronic lung disease and metabolic bone disease.
Chance underwent surgery to place a tube into his throat so he could breathe, is dependent on oxygen and is fed through a tube in his nose.
He needs 24-hour care as he can’t talk or express his needs and there is a risk he could dismantle his lifesaving equipment if not supervised all the time.
Now Newlife, a charity for disabled children, has offered the family a lifeline - a specialist buggy which has enabled Chance to come out of hospital for a few hours a day and spend quality time at their home in Windmill Road.
For months the little lad has been stuck in a bed in the critical care ward at Medway Maritime Hospital.
But the state-of-the-art pushchair now means mum Michelle Burnett, 40, and her partner Andrew Holmwood, 41, can take the twins out, along with essential, heavy equipment including oxygen cylinders, ventilators and a suction machine.
Mum-of-five Michelle said: “It has changed our lives. You can’t do much in four hours but we can feed him, bathe him and he can play with his four siblings before he has to go back to hospital for the night.
“It means everything to have those moments with him and a sense of normality, doing everyday things that other families might take for granted.”
Michelle said the twins have a “special bond” between them, despite spending their first months apart.
She said: “They are just like any other brother and sister, they fight and play together.
"Chance is a very happy baby, despite what he has been through, and he adores his sister.”
Michelle is also mum to Ajay, 15, Demi, 13 and Cole, seven.
The couple were unsuccessful in getting funding for the buggy from the NHS and approached Newlife, which stumped up the £792 to buy and deliver it.
Newlife senior manager Carrick Brown said: “Our rapid response service means children like Chance can get specialist disability equipment in an emergency situation.
“Statutory assessment times and delays in provision impact most on those families whose children, like Chance, simply don’t have time to wait.”
