Little boy who was almost killed by uncle in shocking attack making incredible progress

THIS is the little boy whose injuries - inflicted by his own uncle - were so severe, doctors told his parents to kiss him goodbye and turn off his life support

Bobby Webber suffered horrific injuries and was left with brain damage after he was attacked by his uncle at seven months old. Picture: Supplied

THIS is the little boy whose injuries were so severe, doctors told his parents to kiss him goodbye and turn off his life support.

But, somehow, Bobby Webber not only kept breathing but has recovered enough to celebrate his second birthday with smiles for his family.

Ironically, on that same day, the man who nearly killed him was pleading guilty to causing a horrendous series of injuries that has left little Bobby a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy.

Bobby’s uncle Andrew Nolan (left) pleaded guilty to bashing the little boy.

Bobby with his sister Olivia and parents Barry and Elise Webber. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

2 year old Bobby Webber pictured at his Western Sydney home today. Bobby suffered brain injuries after being attacked by his uncle when he was 7 months old. Bobby's sister Olivia on left.

The nightmare began in September 2014 when his parents Barry and Elise went on their honeymoon. Bobby and his two sisters were left in the care of Elise Webber’s mother and sister. But then Andrew Nolan, Bobby’s uncle, was asked to look after the boy.

“He was left in the care of my sister’s fiance and, in that period, he horrendously abused him,” Mrs Webber, 28, said. “He’d been in our family for 12 years, he is (daughter) Olivia’s godfather, I trusted him with my most precious things, my children.”

Horrified doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Randwick told the Webbers that Bobby’s injuries were fatal.

He had multiple skull fractures caused by blunt force trauma, burst blood vessels in his eyes from being violently shaken that would leave him blind, carpet burn marks on his forehead, fractured vertebrae, bruised genitalia and bite marks on his little body. With extensive brain damage, his prognosis was bleak.

Bobby’s family were told his injuries were fatal, but the little fighter shocked everyone with his fight to survive.

Fighting back from multiple skull fractures and other horrific injuries, Bobby’s recovery has been incredible.

The little trooper has learnt to feed and eat and drink and he says ‘mum’ and ‘dad’.

“The doctors said there was nothing they could do, only the ventilator was keeping him alive. They said he would be better if he died,” she said.

The parents arranged a heartbreaking bedside christening for their baby boy ­before turning off life support.

“We were just devastated, he was our little boy and we had to say goodbye,” Mr Webber said.

Mrs Webber said: “We turned off the life support and thought he’d pass away. He turned blue but then began breathing. We slept in his room next to him still thinking he would pass away, but in the morning the nurse said he had his first purposeful movement.”

The family were transferred to Nepean Hospital under palliative care but Bobby the brave, as they call him, surprised everyone.

Bobby continues to make amazing progress but faces a long and difficult future.

Bobby’s attacker, Andrew Nolan, has never given the family an explanation for the attack.

“He has a lot of issues but he has learnt to feed and eat and drink and he says mum and dad,” she said. “He is classified as a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy but he has a walking frame and he is making progress and he smiles all the time.”

Nolan, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent on February 17, has never given the family an explanation for his actions.

As he awaits sentencing, the Webbers face a lifetime of costs to give Bobby the best chance at life.

“I’ll never be able to work again, my husband is self-employed and financially it has ruined us.

His family says he smiles all the time.

“We’ve moved to Werrington to be near Nepean Hospital. It’s been a living nightmare, we have been through hell,” Mrs Webber said.

“It’s unforgivable,” Mr Webber said of Andrew Nolan’s attack on his child.

“But Bobby has defied the odds, he’s a miracle and we just have to give him the best life possible.”

To help them, a Gofundme ­account has been set up: https://www.gofundme.com/bobby-the-brave