‘Little miracle’ Charlie Butler from Gusserane pictured on Monday
Charlie weighed just 640g (1 lb 7oz) when he was born. He spent the first 100 days of his life in hospital receiving life-saving treatment. Avril, who lives in Gusserane, said: It was a baptism of fire. I had been a patient at University Hospital Waterford. At 22 weeks I was transferred to Cork where they have a neo natal intensive care unit so they felt I was safer there. When we arrived there we got a tour of the unit. We knew then it was going to be a long stay in hospital.