Little Ethan loses battle against illness (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Little Ethan loses battle against illness

8:59am Sunday 26th August 2007 in

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A TINY twin who was born prematurely has lost his fight against illness after just seven months of life.

Brave Ethan Perry's short existence came to an end last Saturday as a result of chronic lung disease caused by his premature birth.

Ethan Michael Norman and his twin sister Erin Barbara Joyce were born just 24 weeks into mother Marie Perry's pregnancy, on January 7. The twins were featured in The Gazette in April.

Little Ethan weighed just 1lb 10oz and underwent heart surgery when he was three-and-a-half weeks old, eye surgery at 11 weeks old and stomach surgery when he was four months old.

He and his sister were finally able to return home from Basingstoke hospital neo-natal unit in June, but after six weeks Ethan returned to hospital with a lung infection.

As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Southampton General Hospital.

Mrs Perry, 28, said: "The doctors tried lots of treatments but they weren't working and we decided Ethan had been through enough and it was time to let him go.

"They disconnected all of the monitors and tubes and he passed away peacefully in my arms."

Although Ethan was with them for only a short time, Mrs Perry, of Branton Close, South Ham, Basingstoke, and her husband Chris, 32, know he has touched many people's lives, including those of their other children Ryan, seven, Meghan, who is six today, Madison, two, and Erin.

She said: "Ethan was a little fighter and very cheeky. He used to know how to wrap you around his little finger and we nicknamed him fidget'.

"When he was at home he used to like watching his brother and sisters. When he was crying in hospital, we laid Erin next to him and he would settle down."

She added: "I think Erin knows that something is different. Since Ethan has gone, people want to come and cuddle her and take comfort from her."

Erin, who weighed 1lb 8oz when she was born, is now 9lb 3oz and, although she needed eye surgery in May, she is doing well.

Last April, their aunt, Charlotte Rudge, organised a fun day to raise money to buy a hot cot for the neo-natal unit at Basingstoke hospital.

The event raised £2,300 and the cot will now be dedicated in memory of Ethan.

Ethan's funeral will be held at St Peter's Church, Pinkerton Road, South Ham, at 1pm on Tuesday.

Flowers are welcome but donations for Basingstoke hospital's neo-natal unit can also be sent to Spencer and Peyton Funeral Directors, 380 Worting Road, Basingstoke, RG22 5DZ.