TWO years after celebrating his 40th birthday ‘Miracle Child’ Andrew Drewett has died after being taken ill in his Thornbury flat.

Andrew was born in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital in Luton in August 1973 and was given just a few weeks to live by doctors.

At the age of one he had meningitis and suffered from Jacksonian fits (a form of epileptic seizure).

At that time he was being treated in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire by one of the country’s leading doctors who gave Andrew just two weeks to live.

Fast forward to 2013 and Andrew was celebrating his 40th birthday with his family and friends and had just moved into his own home.

Throughout his life Andrew had 19 major operations but as devoted Christians put his “indomitable spirit” down to prayer and faith.

Andrew’s father Lyall said: “His indomitable spirit was amazing and he faced every obstacle with great resilience and fortitude.”

One operation was to have rods put in his back to stave off curvature of the spine. This proved to be very successful and Andrew’s condition improved.

Lyall added: “The Jacksonian fits from which Andrew could only get relief by being given Valium injections were healed through prayer in a hotel bedroom in Boscombe at 2am where he suffered the most serious one he had ever had. Instantly Andrew stopped shaking and went into a peaceful sleep.

“We had been told that he would need to be on anti-fit medicine all his life but that was not the case as the fits ceased completely.”

Support from Coalpit Heath-based charity Paul’s Place was invaluable and Andrew made many friends through time spent with them.

On May 7 he was taken ill in his Thornbury flat and following admission to Southmead Hospital was diagnosed with pneumonia which a week later, along with other complications, took his life.

Andrew’s positivity shone through winning him many friends over years spent in Thornbury.

About 220 people attended the thanksgiving service for Andrew at Thornbury Baptist Church, held on Tuesday, May 26 and Andrew’s parents Lyall and Eleanor have received almost 200 cards of condolence.