LEEDS NEWS
Baby Elijah makes slow progress year after coma

ALMOST a year after leaving hospital ‘miracle baby’ Elijah Kay continues to make slow progress at home under the watchful eyes of parents Ayelet and Chris and sister Louise.

Elijah, who was the first baby in the UK to be diagnosed with the Delta variant of Covid, is now able to crawl.

The 21-month-old still needs 24-hour care and is fed through a tube in his stomach and bowel.

Ayelet explained: “Because he is not using his mouth for feeding, his muscles are very weak and this is holding him back from speaking.

“Although he can now crawl, everything else is just as it was when he left hospital.

“Chris and I have had to give up work. Elijah needs round the clock care and is on full-time oxygen support.

“It is very expensive looking after him. We have just had to purchase a disability pushchair at a cost of £700 and we can’t afford the special car seat he requires, as this costs over £3,000.

“It takes us over half an hour just to get out of the house because of all the equipment we need to take with us.”

Ayelet said that the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board have been amazing and they have had a lot of support from Camp Simcha.

She explained that because most charities are struggling for funds, many that she applies to are unable to help.

She added: “Because we do not know if Elijah’s immune system is working, we are now concerned that Covid is rife again.

“It is thought that he caught Covid from his sister so we have to be very careful.

“We are really hoping that he may be able to go to a special needs nursery next year and we ask that people keep praying for him to make a better recovery and hope that he can soon walk and talk.”

Yesterday was the first anniversary of Elijah — who celebrates his second birthday on March 16 — coming out of his coma.

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