'He turned blue and stopped breathing': 2lb baby Josh ready for 18th birthday bash

The three-month-old was rushed into an intensive unit surrounded by doctors, while mother Nicola prepared for the worst.

But the baby, born 13 weeks early weighing 2lb 2oz, survived and just weeks later he came home for the first time.

Now, almost 18 years on, Joshua is preparing to mark his landmark birthday – today a healthy young man.

His mother Nicola, aged 37, said: "I'm so proud of Joshua, he's shown the determination to battle through his early challenge.

"But he's done more than that.

"He was the smallest in his class but then spurted in his growth and is now a tall, healthy young man."

Mrs Taylor grew up in Wolverhampton, meeting her husband Martin at the Venue in the city.

The pair moved in together in Perton and then Coleridge Drive, Wolverhampton.

And not long after they got together, Mrs Taylor fell pregnant.

"Everything was going fine until just before Christmas when I went to see the doctor over pains," she said.

"They said go to New Cross Hospital if the pains continue, but they went away until a few days later when I went to the hospital.

"It all happened so quick, and when he was born, Joshua was taken away straight away.

"I was then waiting for a call from the doctors to tell me he had deteriorated, but it never came and he kept improving."

Mrs Taylor would continue to visit Joshua while he was kept in the neo-natal unit and then in another ward at the hospital.

She said: "We went back one day and I was holding him.

"He turned blue and began frothing around the mouth. My husband got the doctor who quickly took him away and rushed him into a room full of doctors.

"He stopped breathing and it was a serious situation.

"But he amazingly pulled through."

After Joshua came home, both Mr and Mrs Taylor received continued help from the hospital over the early years.

Joshua later went to Berrybrook Primary School, and then Moreton Community School.

And despite being behind his peers in terms of size, Joshua has caught up with them, now 5ft 10in tall.

Joshua, aged 17, said: "I felt like I was going to be small forever, but thankfully I've grown a lot now. Going through what I went through and surviving makes me appreciate life and what I have.

"I feel very lucky."

Joshua is in his second year of a carpentry course at City of Wolverhampton College, based in Bilston. He will celebrate his birthday on December 28 with his family from Featherstone.

His brother Nathan was also born prematurely, arriving six weeks early and weighing 4lb 9oz.

He is now aged 11 and attends Featherstone Academy.