By Eve Noon

FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHARLIE McCafferty will join his friends for their first day of school tomorrow—a milestone his family once feared he would not reach.

Charlie was born 15 weeks premature and spent his first five months in Ninewells Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Suffering from chronic lung disease, a heart murmur and a hernia, his family could never have imagined they would ever see his first day at primary school.

Now he’s full of life and has been trying on his uniform ahead of joining Craigiebarns’ primary one class.

His proud mum Paula Cahill said, “It just means so much to all the family to see him in his uniform and getting ready to start primary school.”

“When Charlie finally came home from the hospital, at five-and-a-half months, he was still on oxygen until he was two years old due to the chronic lung disease.

“For a long time we lived day-by-day, never knowing if or when he would get better.”

Chronic lung disease is common in premature babies who required support from a ventilator because their immature lungs have been too stiff to work properly and their brain is not ready to control their breathing and keep it regular.

“It took us all a lot to get over his ill health at such a young age, but he was strong and he has reached such a big milestone now that it makes his first day of primary school even more special,” continued Paula.

“He is such a lively boy and he is really excited about going up to the big school—he feels really grown up now.

“His older sister, Chantel, starts primary four this week at the same school, which is nice for Charlie because he knows he has someone looking out for him all the time.”

She added, “He is still smaller then average for his age, but they do say that good things come in small packages—and that certainly explains Charlie.”

Charlie’s grandmother Alexis Cahill said, “Charlie has come through so much and we are very proud of him. He is very special due to the fact he was born 15 weeks’ premature, but he is testament to premature babies being able to survive.

“He is a lovely boy—caring, friendly, playful, funny also mischievous at times and definitely full of life.

“When he was at nursery, they took the children for a day visit to the school and he enjoyed that so I am sure he will get on just fine with his latest challenge.

“He is so eager to go he has been trying on his school bag constantly and showing it to everyone.

“He loves being around people and playing with his friends so school should be great for him.”