A BABY who has spent the first 14 months of her life in hospital with a condition which is baffling doctors is preparing for life at home.

Maddison Gill, who cannot cry, suck, swallow, gag or cough, has been spending a few days and nights with her parents and gran in the family bungalow in Trull before being discharged from Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

Maddison, who needs round-the-clock care, cannot control her muscles, walk or talk, and feeds and breathes through tubes.

Her gran, Angie Whatley, said: “She definitely notices the difference being at home as she can happily roll around as much as she likes.

Angie stays up to care for Maddison two nights a week, while carers stay over on the other five nights.

Parents Gene Gill and Tamsin Whatley will soon meet doctors to see when Maddison, whose complaint is so rare she may be the only person in the world with it, can go home permanently.