A COUPLE from Worcester are looking forward to taking their baby girl home for the first time after spending the last five months visiting her at hospital in Birmingham.

Chris and Lorna Wyse are now raising money to thank the charity that allowed them to spend as much time as possible at their daughter’s bedside.

Jovie Wyse was born on Wednesday, May 4, with a rare and dangerous condition called congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, also known as ‘Ondine Curse’.

The condition affects the central nervous system and prevented Jovie from breathing when asleep.

As a result she had to undergo a tracheotomy and required 24-hour ventilation.

Jovie spent her first two weeks at Worcestershire Royal Hospital before being moved to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

With Mr Wyse working two jobs in Worcester and his wife unable to drive they were faced with an almost impossible scenario.

Thankfully, they were told about the Ronald McDonald House Charity which provides a free apartment complex attached to the children’s hospital for parents of babies receiving treatment.

The complex gives families in similar situations the opportunity to cook together, to eat together and share their experiences.

To keep family friends informed about Jovie’s condition the couple set up an online blog which has regularly been updated with pictures and stories.

Mr Wyse, aged 26, said: “The blog was a way of venting our frustrations while also keeping our family and friends up-to-date with Jovie’s progress.

“It’s been a really hard few months, with times where we really didn’t know if we would ever get her home.

“Now that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, we really want to do something to show our thanks to the Ronald McDonald House.

"Without their generosity we would have been stranded and forced to either leave Jovie alone in hospital, or spend a fortune living out of hotels.

"Now four months down the line, it’s a godsend that neither of those things had to happen.”

Mr and Mrs Wyse were forced to move out of their flat in Worcester city centre after Jovie was taken to Birmingham and face a six- week wait before they can move into a new home in the city.

They are arranging a charity auction at the Marwood pub in the Tything to raise money for the charity and officially welcome their daughter home.

So far they have received tickets to watch rugby in Worcester, a holiday in the south of France, and a number of signed Premier League football shirts.

To donate, e-mail christiano_wyse@hotmail.co.uk or call 07825 788729.

Alternatively visit the Worcester News offices in Hylton Road, Worcester, to pick up a donation form.