Dexter glad to be home

Oct. 7, 2013, 5:49 p.m.

Dexter Heffernan is seen here with Clive Payne, of Kiama Lions Club, which helped meet the cost of the standing frame. Picture: DYLAN ROBINSON

BRAVE Kiama youngster Dexter Heffernan is back home after he was hospitalised with aspiration pneumonia.

Last week's hospital stay was the result of saliva that Dexter swallowed into his lungs, a common complication for people with cerebral palsy, but Dexter's first experience of the problem.

After six days of antibiotic treatment, Dexter showed his trademark determination.

While this incident was relatively minor one, Mrs Heffernan recalled "too many images" of other close calls for Dexter, and his family have learned not to underestimate his spirit.

"He is a fighter, an absolute fighter, and he is so stubborn and so determined . . . you know what, he is so cheeky, he really is," Mrs Heffernan said.

"He is smart too. He learns things so quickly."

Dexter was born at 31 weeks and spent 122 days in neo-natal intensive care units.

As well as cerebral palsy, he is visually impaired and last year was diagnosed with liver cancer.

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Dexter glad to be home