Toddler defies all the odds

THEY say Christmas is the time of miracles.

And that is exactly what toddler Liam Coughlan’s parents witnessed this week when he responded to Santa’s voice.

Exactly a year ago, Liam lost his hearing after overcoming a severe form of meningitis.

Three months later, the then nine-month-old became the youngest person in Ireland to have sound-restoring implants placed in both ears simultaneously.

Surgeons at the National Cochlear Implant Programme had to act quickly, fearing any delay in operating could leave him permanently deaf because of his young age and the potentially devastating effects of the meningitis on his ears.

But overjoyed parents Grace and John, from Shanakiel, Co Cork, said their son has made incredible progress over the past week, responding to his name for the first time and uttering his first word.

Such is his rapid recovery that experts have said 17-month-old Liam, who has also just taken his first steps, is just three months behind an average child his age and is now expected to start primary school with his peers.

He has even been discharged from the Cope Foundation, where he was receiving speech therapy and physio treatment.

And Grace, who also has a daughter, Shannon, 3, said the icing on the cake was when she took him to see Santa in Fota Island in Cork and he responded when Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas.

“What’s happened is like a Christmas miracle for us. Last Christmas we couldn’t have imagined Liam would be where he is today.

“But someone up there must be looking down on us, because his life has been transformed. We now know he has full hearing and he’s answering to his name. He’s also started saying ‘Mama’ and is now cruising around the house.

“It’s brilliant because now he’s just like any other boy his age and the meningitis has gone. We thought we might have to send him to a special school, but he’s only a few months behind other children his age and it won’t be long before he catches up, which means he’ll be able to start ordinary school, something we never imagined before.

“Suddenly our life, and more importantly his life, has become a lot easier. He won’t need any more operations.

“Christmas Day will be very special for us this year.”