A five-year-old girl who has spent almost her entire life at Auckland's Starship Hospital will finally be allowed to go home.
Ana-Carolina de Moraes Lobo Bircham has been in the intensive care unit at the hospital since she was about five months old due to a neurological disorder called Guillain Barre syndrome.
The condition stops her from moving, breathing or speaking on her own, but inside she has the mind of any other school-aged child.
The NZ Herald reports Ana-Carolina will come with her parents, Peter Bircham and Elane de Moraes Lobo, on May 15 - after a long battle to find a way.
"We will finally be able to sit around the dinner table and enjoy a meal together, to watch TV together, to take Ana-Carolina to the beach when we want or even just to the supermarket," Ms de Moraes Lobo told the NZ Herald.
"It's all those little things you take for granted. Honestly, it feels surreal. It's been so so hard these past five years and now we have hope."
Ana Carolina has spent almost her entire life living at Starship Hospital. (Source: Other)
Ana-Carolina is able to communicate through blinking her eyes or with limited use of an eye-controlled computer.
There is no cure for Guillain Barre syndrome, but people are able to recover from it over time. It affects a few dozen New Zealanders per year.
Advocacy group CCS Disability Action were instrumental in making the move home happen. Group members found the family a suitable three-bedroom home in Orewa for as long as they need.
Ana-Carolina Bircham celebrated her third birthday with not a hospital ward in sight. (Source: Other)
Auckland District Health Board agreed to the arrangement and will provide care to support the family.
Peter and Elane have put their house on the market and taken out multiple loans to be by Ana-Carolina's bedside, but are now running out of resources.
They are aiming to raise money through Givealittle , and a fundraising event is planned for this Friday at Gibbs Farm near the Kaipara Harbour.
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