A FOUR-year-old toddler who has spent the last seven months undergoing intense therapy at a specialist neuro-rehabilitation centre for a rare brain condition has finally come home.

Joshua Wilson was diagnosed with a tumour on his brain stem one year ago after developing a squint and double vision. He underwent life-saving surgery to remove the tumour and a cyst but was left in a rare sleep-like coma where his body could not function yet he remained aware of his surroundings.

With no way of predicting what damage the surgery would have due to the location of the tumour, doctors predicted it would take Joshua up to two years to recover.

Over the following months, the youngster made continual improvement regaining strength in his arms and legs and head control with his eyes reopening and moved to Highbank Rehabilitation Centre, in Walmersley Road, in August.

But in October, his parents, Dawn Fidler and Colin Wilson, were delivered yet another devastating blow with news the tumour had regrown and would continue to cause damage until it was stopped or removed.

Since then, the brave youngster has undergone monthly chemotherapy sessions which appears to have stopped the tumour growing and will continue with treatment until October. He is now no longer considered to be in a coma and came home to live with mum Dawn of Walshaw Road.

She said: "Its really great having Joshua back at home after 11 months of being in hospital or at Highbank and we are settling into our routines. The neuro-rehabilitaion therapy he received at Highbank really helped Joshua during his post-operative recovery and he seemed to enjoy his time there."

Joshua is now attending Millwood Special School four times a week and Tottington Primary School once a week.

Dawn added: "Joshua is loving school and enjoys playing with all the children. We are hoping he will go full time at Millwood after Easter, which is a big step for him. His teachers at both schools have been very supportive, giving him a really good start within the school environment."