CHARLIE Ciavarella, the courageous Oxley toddler with a potentially fatal and extremely rare immune condition, was discharged from the Royal Children’s Hospital on Monday, 12 weeks after being admitted.

Charlie’s plight and that of his parents Tony and Merryn (left), whose lives were put on hold as he underwent a bone marrow transplant, captured the hearts of the North East who rallied around the young family in support through the Help Charlie Appeal.

“We have a backpack full of medications for him and we will be visiting the hospital almost daily with Charlie as an outpatient as he will still need regular blood tests, photophoresis treatments, and overall monitoring and drug tweaking,” Tony and Merryn told their followers on Facebook yesterday.

“We are still in isolation, but now he can stay with us at BMDI Rotary House with loads more room and a great view of planes, helicopters, cars and stars.

“We can go out, but must avoid people, especially children, until his immune system is stronger and when he is on fewer immunosuppressants.

“As Charlie strongly prefers not to wear a mask, his mode of transport is a pram covered in plastic, a bubble of sorts.

“When we find secluded places, he’s allowed out to play.”

The battle is far from over for the Ciavarellas as they are well aware of the challenges that face transplant patients.

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