Family buoyed by community support

Devon Hacche, 8 months, faces years of treatment and may never talk or breathe independently. Photo/file

The 8-month-old Tauranga boy who suffered horrendous injuries after swallowing a battery was due to undergo more invasive testing yesterday as the family drew strength from the outpouring of support.

Devon Hacche, pictured, has been in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship Hospital in Auckland since December 19, four days after he swallowed a lithium-ion button battery.

Tests revealed the battery caused severe and significant burns 10cm down his oesophagus that not only left a 5cm hole but also burnt through into his trachea, leaving a 2cm hole and severely damaging the nerves that control his vocal chords.

Click here to read the Hacche's original plea for help.

His mother Amanda Hacche said it had been a "very rough" week, with Devon vomiting up the food that was being pumped directly into his stomach.

"Devon vomiting is extremely bad news as vomit has a high acidity level - so it's damaging to the join in Devon's oesophagus."

Devon was also due to be taken to theatre at 4pm yesterday for a laryngoscopy and a bronchoscopy, she said.

"Depending on what these scopes show he may also be having further granulation tissue removal (scraping the tissue off the inside of his trachea) and potential dilation in his trachea."

Ms Hacche said the messages of support posted on the Givealittle page set up to raise money for the family were helping to keep her going.

"I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for the depth of support offered, gentle kindness and incredible generosity you have shown our wee family," she wrote on the fundraising page.

"The intensity of our situation is very overwhelming at times so I will sit with Devon and I will read back over your comments to find a bit more inner strength to keep going. Then Devon will smile at me and for a very flitting moment all feels right with the world again. (Please know I do read every single comment that is left for us - they are very significant to me).

"I am awed and often brought to tears by the beautiful comments that are left for us."

As of yesterday, almost $22,000 had been raised for Devon and his family.

Click here to donate.