A toddler from Bromley who spent more than 500 days of his young life in hospital is finally home, just in time to celebrate his first family Christmas.
A Remarkable Fight for Life
Bertie Melly was born extremely prematurely at just 24 weeks in May 2024, weighing a tiny 1lb 10oz. Shortly after his birth, doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital diagnosed him with a severe and potentially life-threatening illness called necrotising enterocolitis. This condition causes inflammation and death of intestinal tissue.
His battle began almost immediately, with his first major bowel surgery taking place when he was only ten days old. In total, Bertie has undergone five operations, which resulted in him losing around 70% of his small intestine, a condition known as short gut.
A Long Journey Through Hospital Care
Bertie spent his first six months in neonatal intensive care before being transferred to the specialist Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Throughout this incredibly challenging period, his parents, Phoebe and Callum Melly, never left his side, staying at the nearby Ronald McDonald House.
After more than 500 days in hospital care, the "incredible" youngster was finally discharged in November 2024. His parents describe their son as a "remarkable little human being" who, despite the scars covering his hands and abdomen from countless procedures, wakes up and goes to bed "beaming".
Phoebe Melly, 34, credits the "love and affection" from the dedicated team of doctors and nurses at both the NICU and Evelina London for helping shape Bertie's happy character and his progress.
Thriving at Home and Looking to the Future
Since coming home, Bertie has been thriving. He is already climbing stairs and sofas and is getting closer to walking independently. The family has enjoyed simple, normal pleasures, including a visit to see Father Christmas, though Bertie was reportedly more fascinated by the decorations.
Medically, the focus is now on increasing the amount of solid food Bertie eats. He is currently fed via a tube and also has an IV line that delivers essential nutrients straight into his bloodstream. The family's key goal is to wean him off the IV nutrition line, which goes to his heart, within six months to a year.
While celebrating his progress, his parents acknowledge future challenges, as there remains a risk of bowel obstruction later in life. However, they choose to focus on how far he has come. "We’ve made so much progress in 18 months," said Mrs Melly, "so who knows where we’ll be in a year’s time."
The couple expressed being "eternally grateful" to the Evelina team for saving Bertie's life on "countless occasions". Consultant paediatric surgeon Iain Yardley praised Bertie and his parents for facing their many challenges with "extraordinary grace and courage".
This Christmas, after so long in hospital, the Melly family is simply looking forward to spending much-needed time with loved ones and showering their remarkable little boy with presents, enjoying the space and freedom their own home provides.
