An odds-defying baby boy who weighed only 1lb 10oz at birth is set for his first taste of Christmas dinner after having a feeding tube removed just ahead of the festive season.
Doctors feared Iarla Ace would not survive long when he was born prematurely at 25 weeks in the Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast last October.
But he has since confounded expectations to overcome multiple serious health issues, including a brain haemorrhage shortly after birth.
Iarla has undergone five operations and spent a total of 127 days in hospital before finally being discharged to the family home in Castlecaulfield near Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in February this year.
Iarla shortly after he was born last October at 25 weeks weighing 1lb 10oz (Ace family/PA)
His mother Lindsay, father Matthew and four-year-old big sister Aine are now looking forward to spending their first Christmas in the house with the resilient 14-month-old.
Iarla reached another significant milestone in his development just a few weeks ago when a feeding tube was removed from his nose and he was able to eat normally for the first time.
Ms Ace, who is a nurse in Craigavon Area Hospital, said her son’s birth on October 22 last year was very traumatic.
“He was very, very poorly whenever he was born,” said the 39-year-old.
“He wasn’t responding, and he had to be put on a ventilator.
“He was very tiny and at the start he had a lot of difficulties with his breathing and his blood pressure and other things. And it was really one thing after another to be honest with you. At the very, very start it was very precarious – we really didn’t think he was going to survive the first couple of days.
“But he’s a really strong wee man and everything and every idea that they (the doctors) came up with, it just seemed to work for him, and he seemed to just get past each hurdle and then move on to the next one.”
Matthew and Lindsay Ace with their four-year-old daughter Aine and 14-month-old son Iarla at their family home in Castlecaulfield (Liam McBurney/PA)
Ms Ace said last Christmas was a “horrible” experience for the family as she and her husband tried to balance visits to see Iarla in the neo-natal unit of Craigavon Area Hospital with making the holiday special for Aine at home.
Then Iarla became very unwell with a bowel obstruction and was rushed back to the Royal on New Year’s Day for emergency surgery.
“I think last year we just got through it because we had to,” said his mum.
“And it was only whenever I started talking about it again I just realised how absolutely grim it was, it was just horrendous. If I could have cancelled Christmas, I would, but obviously I had a little girl and I couldn’t, and we had to do Christmas.”
She added: “It’s going to be amazing just for us all to be together at home this year for Christmas, and just eat dinner and visit family and enjoy just the four of us being together without having to go anywhere near a hospital.”
Iarla’s father Matthew, who is a team leader in a pharmaceutical company, said the day his son finally came home from hospital was “incredible”.
“It was just unreal,” said the 38-year-old.
“The last four weeks leading up to when you thought he was coming home, time really slowed down rather than got faster.”
Iarla spent last Christmas in the neo-natal unit at Craigavon Area Hospital (Ace family/PA)
He added: “It felt like an age those last few weeks. When the day eventually does come, it’s lots of different emotions, you’ve got nervousness and anxiety of bringing him home because he’s been so well looked after in the hospital environment with so much clinical attention, and you’re now responsible – there’s a pressure that comes with it.
“But it was incredible.”
Ms Ace said the removal of Iarla’s feeding tube was a landmark moment on his journey.
“I just cried and cried, I was just so happy, just so proud of him,” she said.
“It was a very long process to get to that stage and now he really is thriving, he’s meeting all his developmental milestones for his corrected age. He is really enjoying eating and drinking and he’s a very content and happy little man.”
Iarla’s parents say they are so thankful to all those involved in his care at the Royal in Belfast and in Craigavon hospital, and all the family and friends who have helped them throughout the last 14 months.
Matthew and Lindsay Ace with their four-year-old daughter Aine and 14-month-old son Iarla (Liam McBurney/PA)
They also hailed what they described as the “amazing support” of TinyLife, a charity that helps families with premature babies.
Iarla has a condition called hydrocephalus, which results in a build-up of fluid in his brain. His parents highlighted the assistance they have also received from Shine, a charity that offers specialist support to those affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
TinyLife’s chief executive Joanne Morgan paid tribute to the family for fundraising efforts they have undertaken to help other premature babies.
“TinyLife is very privileged to support baby Iarla and his family through what has been a challenging year, albeit with a very happy ending,” she said.
“We are so grateful to the family for all of their fundraising activities. Their efforts will go directly towards vital service delivery for families across Northern Ireland.”
For more information visit www.tinylife.org.uk