A baby boy who has spent more than 500 days of his young life in hospital is finally home, just in time to celebrate his first Christmas with his family.
A Remarkable Journey Home
Bertie Melly, born extremely prematurely at just 24 weeks in May 2024, has been discharged after a marathon 547-day stay across two London hospitals. Weighing a fragile 1lb 10oz at birth, Bertie's path has been marked by immense medical challenges, including five major operations.
His parents, Phoebe and Callum Melly from Bromley, are now joyfully preparing for a festive season they once could only dream of, describing their son as a "remarkable little human being." Bertie's primary medical battle was necrotising enterocolitis, a severe intestinal condition that required his first surgery when he was just ten days old.
Facing Challenges with Courage
Bertie's initial six months were spent in the neonatal intensive care unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, following a rapid 17-minute labour. He was later transferred to the specialist Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where his parents stayed nearby at the Ronald McDonald House to be close to him.
His father, Callum, 37, marvelled at his son's spirit, telling the Press Association: "Considering everything he’s been through... he wakes up beaming, goes to bed, beaming." He highlighted the physical signs of Bertie's ordeal, including scars from countless cannulas and major abdominal surgery.
Phoebe, 34, believes the "love and affection" from the dedicated NHS staff in both the NICU and paediatric ward played a crucial role in her son's joyful nature and recovery. "I think that’s really helped him to get to where he is today," she said.
Thriving at Home and Looking Ahead
Since his discharge in November 2025, Bertie is "thriving." He is making rapid physical progress, nearly walking, and climbing with confidence. For the Melly family, the transition to home life has felt "so normal," with the lengthy hospital stay already becoming "almost a distant memory."
Medically, Bertie lives with a short gut, having lost around 70% of his small intestine. He is currently fed via a tube and receives vital nutrients directly into his bloodstream through an IV line. The family's immediate goal is to increase his solid food intake, aiming to eventually remove both the IV line, which goes to his heart, and the milk pump.
"If he can get that line out, then it means we can have a pretty much normal life," explained Mr Melly, hoping this could happen within six months to a year. While there remains a future risk of bowel obstruction, the family is focused on the remarkable progress made.
Reflecting on the early, uncertain days, Mrs Melly said they took each day as it came, tackling one problem at a time. "There were times I wouldn’t have even thought we’d be sat here today, and we’re at home with him," she shared, finding comfort in how far they have come in 18 months.
The couple expressed their "eternal gratitude" to the Evelina London team. "They saved his life at the end of the day, on countless occasions," said Mr Melly. Consultant paediatric and neonatal surgeon Iain Yardley praised the family's "extraordinary grace and courage," stating that seeing Bertie go home was what the entire team had worked towards.
This Christmas, the Mellys are relishing simple joys—buying presents without hospital space constraints and celebrating as a complete family at home, a milestone that marks the end of an epic chapter and the hopeful beginning of a new one.
