He's a little walking miracle (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

He's a little walking miracle

Callum Barrett before his first day at school Ref: 99132-01The five-year-old boy who has a serious condition that makes him 'allergic to life' has defied medical experts by enjoying his first day at school.

FOUR years ago Callum Barrett's family could not bring themselves to imagine what the future might hold.

Little Callum, who suffers from a life-threatening immune disorder, touched the hearts of Advertiser readers as they learned of his struggle for survival.

But today, against the odds, Callum starts his first day at school a day his family never thought he would live to see.

Readers may remember the Callum's plight he is the boy who is allergic to life.

The five-year-old, from Moredon, was born with a rare condition called hypogammaglobulinemia.

It breaks down his natural defences against everyday bugs, which could prove deadly.

His family were told to expect the worst when he went under the surgeon's knife four times in just one week.

Instead, the youngster has come on leaps and bounds, impressing his team of doctors with his determination.

Last night, Callum pictured in his smart new uniform was all smiles as he prepared for his first day at Rodbourne Cheney Primary School.

He has certainly come a long way since we first told his story in 2001, which triggered a flurry of goodwill messages from readers.

His mother Michelle, 26, said today is one of the proudest moments of her life.

"I thought he wouldn't come out of hospital alive," she said.

"He was a very ill little boy. Between the ages of 10 months and 18 months he didn't eat anything at all.

"At one point he was so ill that he was rushed into Intensive Care.

"Callum is just so excited about starting school.

"On Saturday he said: 'Mummy, what day comes after tomorrow?'

"I told him it was Monday and he started jumping up and down on his bed. He can't wait to start."

As we reported at the time, Callum had a bowel biopsy and a gastrotomy, a procedure used to insert a feeding tube through the skin into the stomach.

Doctors at Bristol Children's Hospital also cut open his stomach to shrink his oesophagus to combat his excessive vomiting.

Days later he had to undergo further surgery on his large bowel after his body continued to reject nutrients fed via a tube.

Callum still bears a reminder of his ordeal a feeding button in his stomach.

Although he can eat some solid food, most of his nutrients come from a special liquid, which is pumped into his stomach three times a day.

Michelle puts her son's 'can do' attitude down to the patience and hard work of staff at Learning Trees Pre-School, in Rodbourne.

"Elaine Tucker and others at the pre-school have done wonders with him," she said.

"Callum would hardly ever talk before he started there. He really has come on leaps and bounds."

In September 2002, Thamesdown boss John Owen was moved by Callum's story and arranged for the bus-mad boy to have a tour of the bus depot.

Dressed in a yellow security jacket, given to him by staff, he clambered aboard a bus as it went through the giant washer.

Afterwards, the tot was given a model of a 1940 bus and a mug to remember the day.

Kevin Shoesmith