A BABY who has overcome numerous medical odds could be back home with his family by Christmas.

Oswaldtwistle tot Carson Hartley was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, known as blue baby syndrome or ToF, a hole in his heart and unformed arteries which starved the blood of oxygen.

Seventeen-month-old Carson wasn’t breathing when he was born and survived a heart attack at three-months-old. Doctors then said if he caught a cold his first winter he could die.

However he survived numerous viruses, bronchitis and pnuemonia. Specialists at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital were then divided about his chances of surviving a five hour heart operation.

Not only did Carson pull through, but he had to endure a ten hour operation after specialists discovered he actually had a second rare heart condition. The condition called DORV, or Double Outlet Right Ventricle, needed to be corrected immediately.

His parents have now been told that he has one more serious operation on his spine to correct Spina Bifida, possibly in the next few months. They have also been told that if Carson continues to progress, he may be at home by Christmas time.

Mum Kirsty Harris said: “They have not given us a definite progress for his future. They have had so many surprises with him that they mainly say ‘Carson is Carson’ and to just take one day at a time and see what happens next.

“They feel it’s important we take him home when possible so we can enjoy whatever time we do have with him.

“He is making progress and we have started to take him on walks outside the hospital. The other day he saw a dog for the first time and he was so excited! It was the first time he had been outside.”

The family are hoping to equip Carson’s bedroom with special needs sensory equipment, such as lights to make his bedroom more stimulating.

Pieces of equipment are between £600 and £800 per item and the family is hoping to save enough between now and December.

Kirsty said: “He will spend a lot of time lying down and we want him to learn and experience as much as possible.”

Anyone who can help with donations of equipment for Carson is asked to contact Kirsty on 0754 681 9167.