At the age of just five months, he and his parents were preparing for treatment for a life-changing condition.
But little Thomas Sim took ill and ended up being airlifted to Edinburgh with breathing difficulties.
Now, his family are so determined his course of therapy for talipes – also known as clubfoot – that they are uprooting from their Invergordon home to Edinburgh for the duration.
Tailipes causes a baby’s foot to turn inwards and downwards.
To correct its position, the youngster will have to undergo a weekly cast being applied as physiotherapists turn his foot a little each week.
Just weeks before he was due to begin treatment at Glasgow Children’s Hospital, the young tot was airlifted to intensive care at Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital after contracting Bronchiolitis.
Thomas’s mum Kimberly Giles, 27, said: “It’s been the hardest time of our lives. We honestly wouldn’t wish for any other parent to be in the position we were, watching their child be ventilated. It’s terrifying and you just feel helpless.
“The treatment has been going really well; we are all really surprised and even the doctors can’t believe it. Not even three weeks ago he wasn’t even breathing for himself and now he’s back smiling and keeping us awake all night.
“They’ve even said we can probably have his operation pencilled in for around 4 weeks’ time which really took us by surprise. The difference in his foot in just one week took our whole family by surprise; we are over the moon.”
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After discovering complications involving his cast slipping off, Miss Giles and her partner John, 27, have pledged to remain in the city in a bid to give their young son the best chance of recovery.
In a bid to cover all financial costs, the family have started a Go Fund me page; a move which has left the family overwhelmed.
Miss Giles added: “We’ve been really shocked at how many people have supported us. Thomas has been so unwell and it’s meant that we’ve had a huge burden financially to deal with, staying in Edinburgh on short notice.
“It’s not just about raising funds though. We want to share Thomas’ story because we are so proud of him and all the battles he’s faced and overcome so far.
“We are so very grateful to everyone who has supported us, whether that’s through donations or by sharing Thomas’ tale.”
You can donate via their page here.
