Noah's parents 'never imagined' they'd celebrate 7th birthday

Noah Freeman who celebrated his seventh birthday yesterday has undergone three major open-heart surgeries, and countless other procedures.

Noah's mum Sarah Freeman said: "He has a lot of obstacles and is always trying his best to over come them. His list of diagnoses grows with him."

Mrs Freeman added: "He has come such a long way."

Noah's three open heart surgeries were undergone at ages 6 days old, 5 months, and 2 years. The first resulted in complications including brain damage, kidney failure and seizures and the second led to blood in his lungs and one of his lungs collapsing.

Mrs Freeman said: "We never imagined when he was a baby that we would be celebrating his seventh Birthday."

Noah, who defied the odds by surviving the operations he had when he was a baby also has ADHD, cerebral palsy, and brain damage which means he has a lot of memory issues and learning difficulties. He will never be able to run, walk far or travel abroad.

Mrs Freeman said: "We are an extremely tight family, always supporting each other through everything. Noah’s strength through everything is amazing even though he struggles with some of the tests, it doesn’t take long for his smile and cheekiness to come back.

The hardest part for us is the tests he needs, bloods, scans etc, and also the unknown."

Noah lives with his mum and dad, Lee, his big brother Riley aged 9, and little brother Adam aged 3, in St John's Worcester. Noah will be celebrating his birthday by having a party with his school friends today.

Mrs Freeman told the Worcester News: "He’s a very cheeky chap, he likes to joke around and play. He enjoys playing outside, or on the computer with his friends or brothers. He enjoys school and has some good friends there. He’s excited to be starting year two in September."

In 2013 Noah was one of the two children who inspired Worcester dad Andy Kirk to set up a charity called Little Soldiers which helps children battling serious conditions.