A BABY boy who stopped breathing two days before last Christmas and underwent significant surgeries in 2015 is about to spend his first Christmas at home.
Luis Marshall was born in November last year with a rare genetic acrofacial dysostosis condition and his difficulties including him having a very small lower jaw and a cleft palate.
Luis developed bronchiolitis last December, and alongside his condition, this caused him to stop breathing.
He spent all of last Christmas and New Year with a feeding tube and oxygen at Furness General Hospital.
Luis was referred to Manchester Children's Hospital in January, where he had to undergo a tracheostomy to help him breathe.
Since then Luis has three significant surgeries and five anaesthetics in his first year of life. He had to have his jaw broken to bring it forward enough to open his airway and repair his cleft palate.
Louise Tucker, proud mum of the 13-month-year-old, said: "Luis is always happy even with a swollen face and sore mouth. We have recently had his tracheostomy removed just after his first birthday. His strength kept us strong.
We just want him to have the Christmas he should have had last year.
He is our brave little star and we are so proud of him."
Luis has been nominated to be an Evening Mail Christmas Star.
The Evening Mail Christmas Stars is sponsored by Heath's Toymaster.
Children have been nominated for bravery and kindness. The Christmas Star winners will receive a surprise visit from Father Christmas at their homes and gifts.
The Christmas Star nominees who have featured in the Evening Mail during November and December will be invited to attend a Christmas party with Santa at the Evening Mail offices in Abbey Road, in Barrow on Wednesday at 4.30pm.
OTHER NOMINEES:
Joshua, Ellie and Isobelle Tyson
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