A TODDLER who has
spent most of his two-year .life
in hospital has lost his fight against
a rare breathing disorder.
Kristopher Dale, who has battled
against Ondine's curse
since he was born, died on
Monday afternoon.
The condition meant he was in
danger of dying every time he fell
asleep and was dependent on a
life support machine.
The 25 month-old youngster,
from Whitechill Road, Kidsgrove;
had . been released from care at
the North Staffordshire Hospital
in. July after a two-year on and
off stay at the complex.
But his condition deteriorated
last Friday evening and he was
rushed to the Queens Medical
Centre in Nottingham as an
emergency patient after develop-
ing Hirschsprung's disease - a
serious illness which affects the
bowels.
His heart broken mother Julie
said today: "I feel absolutely ter-
rible and just so empty..
"The nurses who have cared for
him for so long were gutted, and
.surgeon who has dealt with
Kristopher was almost in tears."
Kristopher was born in August
1998, and his rare condition -
shared by one other sufferer in
North Staffordshire - meant he
had to sleep in a pressurised ven-
ilation tank, which looks like an
incubator, and was linked to an
alarm system.
He would have suffered from
The rare disorder his entire life
and his sleep would always have
to be monitored.
Seven weeks ago, medics
rep1aced his restrictive tank with
more versatile ventilation
mask allowing him to go home
and sleep in his Winnie-the-Pooh
themed bedroom.
But 32-year-old Julie was alert-
ed on Friday after Kristopher
begun screaming in pain.

She said: "I took him straight
to the North Staffordshire
hospital where he constantly
wanted drinks. Normally I
would put his mask on, but he
pushed it away and wouldn't
have it on.
He would have suffered from
The rare disorder his entire life
and his sleep would always have
to be monitored.
Seven weeks ago, medics
rep1aced his restrictive tank with
more versatile ventilation
mask allowing him to go home
and sleep in his Winnie-the-Pooh
themed bedroom.
But 32-year-old Julie was alert-
ed on Friday after Kristopher
begun screaming in pain.
She said: "I took him straight
to the North Staffordshire

hospital where he constantly
wanted drinks. Normally I
would put his mask on, but he
pushed it away and wouldn't
have it on."
After he was transferred to
Nottingham, I was told he had
developed Hirschsprung's dis-
ease which is Synonymous with
Ondine's curse, and the equivalent of a heart attack among people with heart disease" Kristopher's grandmother, Sandra Meakin said the family was devastated by the loss, and said many people through out North Staffordshire have been offering their sympathy
"There has been a lot of interest in Kristopher. A special concert was put on to raise money for viral equipment to help him lead a normal life, and other people have raised money for him too.
'We felt it was important to let these people know Kristopher has lost his fight for life.'