Pendle boys who defied odds at birth start school together (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Pendle boys who defied odds at birth start school together

9:10am Friday 7th September 2012 in News

THREE ‘miracle’ boys whose parents were told they may not survive have started school together.

Joshua Morley-Woodman, Oliver Jackson and Oliver Whitehouse, all aged four, were each struck down with life-threatening conditions in the first year of their lives.

The three classmates, all from Trawden, started at Christ Church Primary School in Keighley Road, Colne, this week.

Their emotional mums said they were overcome with joy to see them now well enough to start in the reception class.

Joshua was born with tetralogy of fallot, four defects in his heart which needed correcting before the age of two, otherwise doctors said he would have died.

He had a 10-hour open heart surgery operation at Leeds General Infirmary at eight months old.

He was in hospital for two months following the operation and has regular appointments with a paediatrician at Airedale and is also seen by the cardiologist from LGI. His mum has been told that he will need further surgery for an adult valve later in life.

Oliver Jackson was diagnosed with pneumonia hours after being born after not breathing for eight minutes at birth and needing to be resuscitated.

The following day doctors also diagnosed him with septicaemia and suspected meningitis. Oliver was in intensive care for 10 days on antibiotics, oxygen and drips while his parents were told it would be touch and go whether he would survive.

Oliver Whitehouse was struck down with late-onset strep B meningitis at six months old after having a 40 minute fit. He was taken to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and had to undergo three operations to reduce pressure on his brain. His parents were told that he only had a 10 per cent chance of surviving and may suffer some brain damage.

All three will now start attending classes for afternoons at first ahead of beginning school full-time.

Joshua’s mum Anna Morley, 30, said: “Joshua has been such a brave boy, although he will still need to have more surgery when he is older he is strong happy boy and is doing great. Joshua is an absolute blessing to me.”

Oliver Jackson’s mum Kate Jackson, 28, said: “It was such a frightening time for us. Oliver starting school is a milestone that when he was born, we thought we might not see.”

Oliver Whitehouse’s mum Carol Tranter, 28, said: “The first year of his life was a nightmare. It is lucky that he has come out of it fine; he is our perfect little miracle.

“All three boys are real fighters and it is lovely that they are all in the same class and I’m sure they will grow up to be great friends.”