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Two years and 10 months – that's how long it took for little Francesco Bruno to go home to his family.
The little boy has spent his entire life inside hospital walls, breathing through a ventilator, and being fed through tubes.
His parents, Priscilla and Emanuele Bruno from Chicago, Illinois, were overjoyed when he was recently discharged from La Rabida Children's Hospital.
Taking their son home to begin a new adventure with his family was something they'd hoped for since the day he was born.
"We're very nervous, tense, scared, overwhelmed, and really happy. It's just a melting pot of emotions," Emanuele says.
The couple were told their son would only survive 30 minutes after birth, but he beat the odds.
Francesco was diagnosed with skeletal dysplasia, a condition that causes an infant's bones, joints and cartilage to develop abnormally.
The condition affected his ribs and made it hard for his lungs to grow properly, which resulted in numerous surgeries. He's had to stay in hospital for continual rehabilitation and intensive therapy.
When the day came for him to be discharged, the children's hospital staff all gathered outside, cheering as his mother pushed him in a wheelchair as they made their way home.
"I think as a team we’ve poured so much love and effort into Francesco’s development," says Maggie Sladick, a therapist at La Rabida.
"This is the goal for all our kids, but it’s always bittersweet to have them leave and move on to their next adventure," she says.
The next step in Francesco's journey to recovery won't be without hardship, but his medical team say he's getting stronger every day.
His parents have also taken classes to help them fulfil his numerous needs.
"We're going to do this one day at a time, like we've been doing until now," Emanuele says.
Luckily, the little fighter will have the support of his six siblings, who couldn't wait to play with him after he was discharged.
Francesco turns three in December and his entire family is looking forward to celebrating his first birthday – and Christmas – at home.
"We’re overjoyed, very happy, and ready to start a new chapter, a new adventure," his mom says.
SOURCES: CBS.COM, FOX32CHICAGO.COM
