A battling Angus tot is facing a bleak Christmas in a damp and overcrowded flat as his family’s wait of nearly a year for a new council house continues to drag on.
Born four months premature and weighing less than a bag of sugar, tiny Kane Bradley beat the odds to survive but still faces a daily battle against a range of serious health problems.
He remains at high risk of developing cerebral palsy and is constantly hooked up to oxygen, but despite “false promises” from the local authority he remains in a Montrose flat which his mum says has contributed to viral infections that have hospitalised the tot six times since September.
Kane was born only 24 weeks into his mum Emma’s pregnancy in August 2014. Medics won the fight to save the life of the 1lb 9oz baby, who struggles with epilepsy and almost died three times in his early days.
He fought on and in January was allowed home to Union Street inMontrose to be with his mum and four-year-old big sister Kaci.
However, Emma says the flat and its 15 concrete steps is totally unsuitable as she has to haul up oxygen bottles,buggies and other weighty items.
But any hopes the family would be quickly rehomed have twice been dashed.
“We have been waiting ages and ages for a house and twice we have been told that we’re getting one, only for it not to happen,” said Emma.
“The first time I wasn’t given any explanation and then the second time, occupational therapists, who have to look at it because of Kane’s needs, said it wasn’t suitable.
“This flat we’re in is damp and there’s not nearly enough room for us, especially with the oxygen bottles we have to store.
“Kane takes ill really quickly. He’s had six viral infections since September and been in and out of hospital.
“He gets an injection every month over the winter to try to prevent him picking things up, but he just ends up back in the HDU (High Dependency Unit).”
Yet despite the toddler’s struggles, Emma says her brave boy continues to do well in the face of his many problems, laughing and making noises.
She added: “We are hoping he can start at the specialist nursery at Armitstead soon, but Montrose is such a long way from there that it’ll be a struggle.
“I also have to rely on family and friends to take me to Ninewells all the time when Kane is not well.
“I appreciate that there are not a lot of houses available, but we really hoped we would be out of here by now.
“Things go for weeks without us hearing anything from the council. .”
An Angus Council spokesman said: “We are fully aware of this case and the circumstances around it.
“While we have assessed there is a need for alternative accommodation, it is not always possible to re-house people in specific areas or indeed properties for reasons out with our control, and we are constrained by the availability of suitable properties, dependent on turnover of stock in both social housing and the private rented sector.
“We will, however, continue to work closely with the tenant and our partners in health and housing associations in an effort to find the best solution for our tenant and her family.”