A BABY boy who has spent the first 483 days of his life in hospital has moved back home for the first time following a successful heart transplant.

Caleb O’Connell, who spent his first birthday in hospital in July, had his heart operation at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital in May and has been preparing to come home ever since.

Despite a few “hiccups”, parents Anthony and Claire O’Connell, from Catterick Garrison, said Caleb is now doing very well and settling in to home life for the first time since arriving on Tuesday.

The Northern Echo: PROUD: Anthony and Claire O'Connell with baby Caleb

PROUD: Anthony and Claire O'Connell with baby Caleb

He said: “We are all delighted to have him home. He is doing fantastic, and he clearly really loves being home with us and his brothers and sisters.

“Since the transplant he has had a couple of problems when he rejected the heart – he was quite sick the first time but the second time it was dealt with really quickly and it is being managed well now.

“It is just great to have him home, so we can start a new normal – for us, normal used to be getting up early and driving to Newcastle. Now he is with us and we can relax.”

Caleb will be on medication for the rest of his life, and will still have regular visits to hospital in Newcastle, but can now enjoy life at home with his family.

Mr O’Connell, a soldier with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, said he and his wife have been taking it turns to live at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital in Scott House, accommodation set up especially for families of sick children.

The couple’s other children, aged 17, eight, six and four, have been really supportive and understanding – as the couple have made sure the younger children especially understand what is going on.

He said: “What’s good about Scott House is that they could make friends with other children who have sick siblings so they understand what it means for Caleb to need a new heart. It was good for them to have friends who knew what they were going through.”

Scott House manager Andrew Leadbitter said: “Caleb’s family have been with us for such a long time, and it’s great to finally see him go home to be with them all. Hundreds of families like Caleb’s walk through the doors of Scott House not knowing whether their child will be one of the lucky ones to get a heart. All they can do is wait and hope that they will be ok. And while they wait, Scott House is here for them, so they can be there to support their sick child during the hardest time of their lives.

“Although our Homes from Homes are free for families with seriously ill child, it costs us £30 to support a family for one night, and we completely rely on voluntary donations. So next week we are asking people to join in the Pyjama Party where children are sponsored to go into nursery, playgroup or school to help raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust. To get involved, simply email fundraising@sickchildrenstrust.org.”