Liam marks milestone birthday

When little Liam Timmins was born sixteen weeks prematurely he was smaller than a pint glass and weighed just 1lb 12oz.

His West Bromwich family were warned by doctors that he was unlikely to survive.

But now, after several life-saving operations and with the love and support of his family, Liam is a happy, healthy schoolboy looking forward to celebrating his tenth birthday.

When Liam was born he was so small he was unable to breathe and was put straight into a ventilator.

His worried parents, Michael and Emma, were told by surgeons at Birmingham Children's Hospital that he would probably die within days of his birth.

Doctors found a valve in the tot's heart had not closed because he had been born so early and medication which is usually used to cure the problem did not work. So on Christmas Eve, and at just three weeks old, Liam had to undergo massive heart surgery to close the valve and save his life.

The heart surgery was the first of three operations the baby had to undergo. Liam had to have a double hernia operation at five weeks and a third operation on his stomach.

He had a total of 23 blood transfusions during his seven-month fight to health.

He was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital and City hospital before being transferred to Sandwell Hospital.

He was finally allowed to go back to the family home, in Ruskin Street, at seven months old, weighing just over 3lbs.

Mr Timmins said Liam was looking forward to his birthday on Wednesday and the family planned to take him and his friends ten pin bowling to celebrate.

He said the Hargate Primary pupil was now just like any other little boy.

"His birthday is a big milestone, for the first 18 months I kept saying to my wife 'we're going to lose him one day' but he is still here now," Mr Timmins added.

By Emma Sloper