WASAGA BEACH — Slowly but surely, Jordan Hewitt is making a recovery.

The four-month-old baby isn't out of the woods yet, but at least he's home — and that's all his mother Vanessa Rail can ask.

The family recently accepted an $1,800 cheque, the proceeds of a charity barbecue hosted by Giant Tiger during the Elvis Festival weekend.

Jordan seemed to be a healthy baby boy when he was born May 1 to Rail and her boyfriend Nick Hewitt. Within a week after he was born, he showed signs of jaundice, and was taken to Orillia Soldier's Memorial. It briefly cleared up, but then returned; he was taken to Orillia and then to Toronto's Sick Kids, where doctors found a blood clot in his brain, and a clot in the artery between his liver and heart.

After two months at Sick Kid's, the family stayed with Nick's grandparents in Barrie, staying close to medical facilities — just in case.

He's back at home in Wasaga Beach, but still delicate; the family was reticent about bringing him out for a recent photo op, because Jordan's immune system has been compromised.

"He's doing better, but for the next year he has to make regular trips to Sick Kid's," said Nick Hewitt's mother, Liana. "He still has the clot in the artery between his liver and heart, but doctors have given him a couple of shots of blood thinner, and they're confident that will break it up."

Jordan also requires around-the-clock care — a strict regimen of feedings, injections, and medication.

"It's interesting — it's a wonder they get any sleep," said Liana Hewitt, who also takes an evening shift to help give Jordan his medication on the nights her son works.

"Everything has to be on time… it's pretty strict," adds Rail.

On Sept. 10, Jordan will go in for an ultrasound to see if the blood thinners are doing their work to clear up the clot. He'll be back to Sick Kid's in November and February for check-ups.

Most of his medication is covered, though the blood thinner — Heparin — Jordan takes is not covered for the full year he'll be on it.

The couple is also buying a special formula to feed Jordan. The formula is $200 for four cans, and one can lasts two days.

Rail says she's been told she can start Jordan on regular feedings soon.

Jordan's grandmothers established a trust fund for the family; the money helped cover some of the family's basic costs for the two months Jordan was at Sick Kid's (Nick and Vanessa were able to stay at Ronald McDonald House for part of that time, and because the couple stayed with the baby, Nick wasn't receiving an income).

The trust fund is based at the Wasaga Beach TD Canada Trust branch. Donations can be made to branch number 3807 account number 6054418.