Little boy's chance of Xmas at home

Lad, 5, who has spent most of his life in hospital could get to go home for festive feast thanks to generous offer

- By RAMAZANI MWAMBA

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy who has spent his whole life in and out of hospital may be about to spend his first full Christmas at home.

Patrick Brown was born with dysplasia in his kidneys in 2020. Treatment for the illness means he needs a dialysis machine which is integral to keeping him alive.

The condition is an abnormal development of cells or organs which prevents the blood in a patient's body filtering as well as it should.

Born on the cusp of Covid, it meant the youngster had to stay in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for close to two years.

Following the pandemic, while most of the public's lives returned to normal, Patrick's remained the same. Now he spends more time in hospital than at home with his mum Jade, dad, John, two sisters and little brother.

The Denton family's gruelling schedule sees Patrick spend three days a week on a ward alongside his mum, who often wakes in the early hours of the morning to take him there.

She also sleeps with him on wards during overnight stays that can last as long as two weeks.