A FAMILY have defied all the odds to spend Christmas at home together.

Hangleton resident Kirsty Bates was 18 when she was told she would never be able to have children.

She was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work.

Kirsty said: “When they told me that I couldn’t have children, I just resigned myself to becoming an auntie.”

But, in 2016, Kirsty received an unexpected piece of news.

She said: “I found out that I was pregnant and then Ozzy came along, I was in complete shock.

“I never expected it to happen, but it was the best surprise I could have had.”

Kirsty was born and raised in Brighton, living in Hollingbury as a child before making the short move over to Hangleton.

Then, earlier this year, disaster struck when Ozzy fell seriously ill.

He was admitted to The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton with bronchiolitis, and has been in and out of hospital five times since.

Kirsty said: “He was in last week and has been on oxygen and saline.

Since he first went into the Alex, he’s had to go back five times and we worried that he wouldn’t get better.”

Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection that affects babies and young children under two.

Most cases clear up within two weeks, but some children have severe symptoms and require urgent hospital treatment.

Kirsty said: “After his treatment, Ozzy was refusing to feed.

“It’s been so hard to have to watch this happen to him.”

But staff at the hospital found a solution to the problem.

Kirsty said: “The play staff at The Alex gave him a special straw and cup with one of his favourite shows, Paw Patrol, on.

“He really took to it and since then he has been feeding much better.”

As a result, Ozzy, who is now 15 months old, has improved – and he has been able to come out of hospital for Christmas.

The family attended the hospital’s outpatients party at the Brighton Hilton Metropole on Thursday to celebrate with other families who have successfully fought illnesses this year.

Kirsty said: “I never thought I would be able to have children and, when I did, to have him in and out of hospital was a nightmare.

“But, he’s fought it off and it’s so great to have him out for Christmas, he’s a little miracle.”

Ozzy was all smiles at the party, laughing and giving high fives to the hospital’s play staff who have worked with him for the past few months.

Kirsty said: “He’s a bit of a character and all the nurses just fell in love with him.

“So much so that a lot of them said they wanted to take him home themselves.”

Kirsty’s mother Tanya came down from Oxford to see Ozzy and her daughter, and the three generations celebrated Ozzy’s good health together.

Kirsty works at Charter Medical Centre, Hove, and said working in healthcare had made her more understanding and appreciative of the work done by staff at The Alex.

She said: “The staff were absolutely fantastic with him. They just do an amazing job,.”

Ozzy will return to the hospital in January but the family will celebrate Christmas at home.