Family and friends gathered to celebrate the 10th birthday of an inspirational little lad with a rare condition who has defied the odds and left doctors baffled.
Milo Browne, from North Shields, suffers from a rare degenerative condition so unique it is known only as M3BHA - and doctors feared he wouldn't live past two hours. Now 10, Milo is thought to be the oldest known case in the world, as sadly most children with this condition do not live past two years.
And to celebrate the momentous occasion, his mum and dad Stephen Browne and Laura Davidson, held a family fun day on Saturday to celebrate Milo and his incredible impact on the world. The fun day also helped raise funds for Mission Milo with money going towards an adapted caravan fit for families with children who may have complex needs like Milo.
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Stephen said: "We never thought this would be something that we would be celebrating even at the beginning of this year we didn't think it would be something he would get to see. We don't know what is going to happen, it may be his last birthday but if it is his last birthday then we've definitely made it special. We wanted people to come together and just have a fun day.
"We can't believe he's 10, I still don't think it's sunk in but Milo made it possible. Any seizure he has could be fatal so he's winning the lottery every single day he's alive but throughout his life, he's proven people wrong. Milo has outlived everyone else with this condition, he's just amazed us all."
The condition causes Milo to suffer from constant seizures, any of which could be fatal. He is unable to talk or eat, sit or stand without being fully supported and he is now on 24-hour oxygen meaning he needs constant care. However, despite everything, Stephen said Milo is "the happiest little boy" and makes everyone's day that little bit brighter.
He said: "People who meet Milo say how his smile has melted their hearts and I think that's why everyone supports us so much. They see this child who has got all these problems but he is the happiest little boy and he is so full of life and people love him.
"I think people see so much strength and determination in Milo. People have a bad day at work or something that has gone wrong and they look at Milo and see how happy he is and that gives them strength. Milo has changed us and he has changed every single person who has met him.
"People become so emotionally attached to Milo, people are just drawn to him. He got more than 200 birthday cards from people. Everyone needs a Milo day and to have 10 years of Milo, we're just blessed."
If you would like to donate to the family's cause, you can do so here. You can also follow Milo's journey here.
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