By ALESHA CAPONE
WHEN little Tobiah celebrates his first birthday this week, the happy event will also be raising funds for a worthy cause.
Tobiah’s parents, Adam and Tracey Humphries, have asked party guests to make donations to the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) instead of bringing presents to celebrate their youngest son turning one on 29 January.
Mrs Humphries said with a “house full of toys” and Christmas barely a month ago, they are keen to help out the hospital where Toby – as he is fondly called – has spent so much time.
While Mrs Humphries was pregnant, doctors diagnosed Toby with Spina Bifida and said he might never be able to walk.
The day after he was born, Toby spent five hours in surgery to fix a hole in his back and have a shunt inserted in his brain to help drain a fluid build-up into his stomach, so it could absorbed.
In June last year, Toby returned to the RCH for more surgery after a regular neurosurgeon’s appointment discovered a problem with the shunt.
However, much to the joy of his parents and siblings, three-year-old Noah and six-year-old Charlotte, Toby quickly recovered from his operation.
“He’s very chilled out. All the doctors and physios comment on how happy he is and how he doesn’t cry if they ask him to do things,” Mrs Humphries said.
Rev Humphries, who is minister of the Brimbank Presbyterian Church, said Toby was “very social” and made many friends among parishioners.
The plucky toddler is already feeding himself, rolling around and pulling himself into sitting positions.
For a while, Toby had to wear gloves to help train him to put his thumbs out rather than keeping them close to his hands. He has also had work done so his legs will not turn inwards.
“He’s done better than we ever expected,” Rev Humphries said.
“We are just grateful to the church who have been understanding as well.”
Mrs Humphries said Charlotte and Noah were protective of their little brother.
“They’re forever fighting over who gets to play with him and who gets to sit next to him in the car,” she said.
