The UK's longest-hospitalised Covid patient spent his third Christmas being cared for away from his family - but his twin brother has not given up hope of a recovery.
Steve Laviniere was admitted just three days after Boris Johnson plunged the country into lockdown for the first time in March 2020, and suffered severe brain damage as a result of the virus.
Popular DJ Steve, 59, is now being treated at a hospital facility in Guildford, Surrey, where he is unable to walk or talk and has to be fed through a tube.
His brother Bobby - who spends hours at his bedside every week - said Christmas would be an emotional time for their family, but he hopes 2023 will be the year Steve finally comes home.
In recent weeks he's been buoyed after Steve moved his toes and fingers, and described his twin's resilience as a "miracle".
Steve - who toured the world with his brother as one half of soulful house duo Bobby and Steve - suffered a rare neurological condition called Acute haemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) when medics put him in an induced coma.
Nearly three years later he requires around-the-clock care, but Bobby said he is counting his blessings that his twin has survived.
Bobby said: "Things could be a lot worse. We've got to be grateful that Stevie is still here.
"When you Google his diagnosis, the first paragraph that comes up says people do not normally survive a week. But it's a miracle Stevie is still here.
"His soul is still here, I know he can still hear us and we're doing our best to get him home."
And after many dark days, Bobby said he'll go into the new year full of optimism after encouraging signs from his brother.
"In the last three weeks his wife saw him moving his toe - little things like that show he can respond," he said.
"Everything is moving in the right direction. He's in there battling away, I know that for a fact."
Steve has repeatedly defied medics, who have told the family he might not pull through.
He currently goes back home for a few hours every eight weeks, and on November 18 his loved ones celebrated his and Bobby's 59th birthday.
They are optimistic that Steve will finally be able to come home for good from next summer.
Planning permission has finally been granted for crucial renovations to the home Steve shares with wife Julie to allow him to come home.
A fundraising appeal to pay for the work has reached more than £35,000 since Steve became ill, and Bobby hopes he can raise a further £30,000 to allow it go ahead.
"Once it's been done the plan is to get him home at the weekends to begin with," Bobby said.
"The love and support we've had from people has been more than inspiring, it's part of what's keeping me standing."
On his first visit home his loved ones were delighted when Steve moved his head to look at mum Bernadine when she was praying.
Tragically the brothers' mum will not be able to greet him on his return, as she died last October after a long illness.
Bobby is in the process of setting up the Bobby and Steve Foundation, which will support people with neurological conditions.
He believes he and Steve, who have toured the world and sold out huge events since they started DJ-ing in 1984, contracted the virus in Madrid just before lockdown.
They were both breathless during a business meeting the day after they returned, and Bobby's condition worsened - although Steve seemed to be recovering.
Bobby was admitted into hospital, where he was placed into a coma before making a full recovery.
Two days before he was discharged, Steve was admitted, but at the time his twin thought everything would be fine.
Medics were alarmed that he was unresponsive after coming out of a coma, and b rain scans revealed he had AHLE caused by coronavirus .
Since Steve's illness Bobby has put on a number of events, with industry pals David Morales, Norman Jay and Trevor Nelson among those who have lent their services.
"We have four events lined up next year, the plan is to keep on going," he said.
Click here to go to the GoFundMe page to support Steve's return home
