BRAVE HARLEY WINS MENINGITIS BATTLE; Family joy for boy, 4.Byline: Victoria Murphy LITTLE Harley Slack's cheeky cheek·y adj. cheek·i·er, cheek·i·est Impertinently bold; impudent and saucy. cheek  i·ly adv. smile says it all - he's
going home after beating the odds to survive.
After six months in hospital and losing all his limbs to meningitis meningitis (mĕnĭnjī`tĭs) or cerebrospinal meningitis (sĕr'əbrōspī`nəl), acute inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. , Harley, four, will be back with his family for Christmas. Yesterday, as he posed happily with his family and hospital staff, parents Samantha and Adam spoke of their joy at his recovery. The couple are moving into a bungalow bungalow [Indian bangla,=house], dwelling built in a style developed from that of a form of rural house in India. The original bungalow typically has one story, few rooms, and a maximum of cross drafts, with high ceilings, unusually large window and door specially adapted for their son. Samantha, 24, said: "We are so looking forward to getting Harley home. "He is doing really well - back to being Harley again. "He had a bug over the weekend but he is pretty much ready to go home. "His physiotherapists are really pleased. "He is working really hard now with them and he has school as well. "We have been telling him all about the house and he talks all the time about how he wants his new bedroom decorated." When doctors decide Harley is ready, he will spend a few hours at home before returning to the wards - gradually building up until he is able to spend the night at home in Stockport, near Manchester. Samantha and Adam, 21, were due to get married in December but have postponed their wedding until February as they try to plan the ceremony around hospital visits and looking after younger son Tyler. Staff nurse Owen Morris, who has beencaringforHarley,said: "Weare delighted it is looking likely Harley will be home for Christmas. "He is a very brave and courageous little boy who has battled his way back to health against all the odds." Harley's battle touched the nation's hearts and more than pounds 550,000 has been donated to the Harley Slack Fund. It will be used to give him a better future with high-quality prosthetic pros·thet·ic adj. 1. Serving as or relating to a prosthesis. 2. Of or relating to prosthetics. prosthetic serving as a substitute; pertaining to prostheses or to prosthetics. arms and legs. CAPTION(S): HOME TIME: Harvey with parents Adam and Samantha and the hospital staff |
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