A community fundraising effort has been launched to support a family whose one-year-old son remains in hospital after suffering a brain injury during a medical procedure.

Baby Miller Morton spent four weeks at Starship Children’s Hospital, where he had his first birthday on Christmas Day, and has been in Tauranga Hospital for the past two weeks. His parents, Ella Barnfield and Alex Morton, have been at his bedside throughout as Miller requires 24-hour care.

Speaking from Tauranga Hospital, Ms Barnfield, who grew up in Ōhope and whose parents still live there, said Miller’s injury occurred as the result of a complication during what was expected to be a routine gastroscopy.

“He went in for a simple medical procedure and there was a complication which has led to a brain injury.”

A Givealittle page has been set up by family member Aja Barnfield to help the family manage the financial pressures of their son’s ongoing care. Family friend and Ōhope motorcycling enthusiast Marty Harlow is also planning a charity motorbike ride around the East Cape to boost the fundraising effort.

Ms Barnfield said the family had been overwhelmed by the support they had received.

“We are so lucky to have family support. Both sets of grandparents have been helping with night shifts so we can get a little bit of a break,” she said.

There is still uncertainty around how long Miller will remain in hospital and what his long-term prognosis will be.

“With a brain injury, you really have to wait and see,” Ms Barnfield said.

Despite the uncertainty, Miller has made encouraging progress, particularly over the past two weeks. He is undergoing daily rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, and is beginning to regain some skills.

“We just have to wait and see if he can relearn everything that he used to know,” she said.

The family has also expressed deep gratitude to medical staff at both hospitals.

“We could not have asked for any better help,” Ms Barnfield said. “They’ve told us that after the first year we should have a better idea of what his baseline looks like. It’s definitely a long haul and something that will affect him for life to some extent, but we don’t yet know how much. It really depends on him and how he responds to rehab and physio.”

Small milestones have brought hope.

“He can smile back at us, and we even get a few giggles. Physio and occupational therapy staff have been blown away by him; he’s surprised a lot of people.”

Both parents are unable to work at present. Ms Barnfield has not yet returned to her role with Whakatāne District Council, nor Mr Morton at his job at the mine .

She said their employers were very supportive, and the support from the community had been mind-blowing: “Meals, messages, calls, and now the Givealittle. It’s going to make a massive difference, especially when we get home and want to fund extra physio and therapy to keep his rehab going.”

Any remaining funds will be donated to Ronald McDonald House, where the family stayed while Miller was at Starship.

The Givealittle page can be found under “Marty Party charity ride for Miller Morton”.

MOTORCYCLISTS RIDE FOR BABY MILLER

This will be the second year Ōhope motorcyclist Marty Harlow has taken to the road to raise funds for a cause close to his heart.

“Last year we did a ride and raised money for youth mental health.

“It was a great success and a lot of fun, so we decided we would make it an annual event,” Mr Harlow said.

This year, Mr Harlow, along with friends and family, will ride around the East Cape to support baby Miller Morton and his parents, Ella Barnfield and Alex Morton.

One-year-old Miller recently suffered a brain injury and faces a long and uncertain road of rehabilitation.

“There is a long road ahead for Miller, Ella and Alex and we want to do what we can to ease the financial burden of what is to come.

“Every donation no matter how small will help him and his family with his journey ahead.”

Mr Harlow said his connection to the family was personal, with Miller’s grandfather living next door.

“We’re close friends and it’s a tight-knit community where we live.”

The ride will take place from January 30 to February 1, with around 10 to 15 riders taking part, including Mr Harlow’s parents, friends from Auckland, and others from Thames.

The group will camp the first night at Te Araroa Holiday Park, and the second night at Tatapouri Bay in Gisborne, where 10 campsites were offered for free.

“The ride itself is beautiful. We stop along the way to see the sights, and we also have a support ute with us in case of breakdowns — last year we had a couple,” he said. “There’s a real mix of bikes too, from modern machines through to older models.”

The ride will finish with a barbecue at Mr Harlow’s Ōhope home.

A third-generation motorcyclist, Mr Harlow said his grandfather was a racer from England.

“And my father has ridden bikes all his life, so it’s always been part of me.”

Funds are being raised through the Givealittle page “Marty Party charity ride for Miller Morton,” which reached $17,000 yesterday.