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A momentous day for Reece
Reece Fairhurst is celebrating a special birthday – his first out of hospital.
The youngster – who turns three on Sunday – has spent his entire life on a ventilator, due to his suffering from a rare protein deficiency called X-linked myotubular myopathy which renders all muscles virtually useless.
But he is very bright, a real battler and his family are pulling out all the stops for a party at the Oak Hotel.
His parents Kieran and Gina know every moment is precious. Sufferers of the condition only have a one per cent chance of making it to the age of 10. However, they say that thanks to all the care he receives, including attending Hope School, he is a happy little boy.
The Fairhursts, of Kingsley Avenue, Goose Green, are keen to highlight the work of the Myotubular Trust which is looking for a cure to a hereditary condition – which only affects boys – and caring for those who already have it.
The party has been organised by the Wish Upon a Star charity which often takes poorly youngsters on holidays.
But Reece is not well enough to travel so the event is being held in his home town. Disney characters, bouncy castle and a chocolate fountain are all being laid on for him and the Vale Royal restaurant in Orrell donated 40 for the birthday cake.
Kieran said: "Everyone is trying to make it as special a day as they can for him. He was only discharged from hospital in July last year so this is his first birthday at home.
"There had been no clues that there was anything wrong with him while Gina was pregnant but when he was born he wasn't breathing and very floppy.
"He was transferred from Wigan Infirmary to Manchester Children's Hospital and put on a ventilator because he could not manage to breathe on his own.
"After seven months he went to Booth Hall Hospital's transitional care unit and they said it would be a long time before we got him home. It was in February 2007 that we found out that he had myotubular myopathy which is a protein deficiency in the muscles.
It means that he cannot sit up unaided and of course it also affects his chest muscles which is why he needs help with his breathing."
Kieran urged local people to make a donation to the Myotubular Trust.
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
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